View source for The Creatures of Prometheus

{{short description|Ballet by Ludwig van Beethoven}}
{{Italic title}}
'''''The Creatures of Prometheus''''' ({{langx|de|Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus|links=no}}), [[Opus number|Op.&nbsp;]]43, is a [[ballet]] composed in 1801 by [[Ludwig van Beethoven]] following the [[libretto]] of [[Salvatore Viganò]]. The ballet premiered on 28 March 1801 at the [[Burgtheater]] in Vienna and was given 28 performances. It was premiered in New York at the [[Park Theatre (Manhattan)|Park Theatre]] on 14 June 1808 being one of the first full length works by Beethoven to be performed in the United States. It is the only full length ballet by Beethoven.

{{Listen|type=music|filename=Beethoven Prometheus Creatures Op. 43 No. 1 - Overture.ogg|title=''The Creatures of Prometheus'' – Overture|description=[[NBC Symphony Orchestra]] conducted by [[Arturo Toscanini]], recorded in 1944
|filename2=Beethoven Prometheus Creatures Op. 43 No. 14 - Solo della signora Cassentini.oga|title2=''The Creatures of Prometheus'' – 14. Andante (Solo della signora Casentini)|description2=Performed by Laila Storch (oboe), [[William McColl (clarinetist)|William McColl]] ([[basset horn]]), and Anita Cummings (piano)}}

== History ==
[[Salvatore Viganò|Viganò]] was tasked with presenting a work to the Archduchess [[Maria Theresa of Austria (1767–1827)|Maria Theresa]] at the Vienna Court Theatre (Burgtheater), and chose the subject matter of [[Prometheus]] in an allegorical sense. While Viganò usually composed his own music for his performances, he felt this performance was far too important and asked Beethoven to compose instead.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Huscher |first1=Phillip |title=Overture to ''The Creatures of Prometheus'', Op. 43 |url=https://cso.org/uploadedFiles/1_Tickets_and_Events/Program_Notes/ProgramNotes_Beethoven_Prometheus.pdf |website=[[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]] |access-date=29 October 2021 |department=Program notes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125234131/https://cso.org/uploadedFiles/1_Tickets_and_Events/Program_Notes/ProgramNotes_Beethoven_Prometheus.pdf |archive-date=2020-01-25 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ballet was written in two acts, with Beethoven creating an [[overture]], an introduction, fifteen numbers, and a finale.

== Summary ==
The ballet is an allegory based on the mythical story of Prometheus, who stole fire from [[Zeus]] in order to [[Creation of man from clay|create mankind from clay]]. In the ballet, Prometheus finds mankind in a state of ignorance and decides to introduce the ideas of science and art to them, largely based on Beethoven's own support of the [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] movement. Prometheus introduces the humans to [[Apollo]], the god of the arts, who commands [[Amphion and Zethus|Amphion]], [[Arion]] and [[Orpheus]] to teach music, and [[Melpomene]] and [[Thalia (Muse)|Thalia]] to teach tragedy and comedy. The humans also meet with [[Terpsichore]] who, along with [[Pan (god)|Pan]], introduces them to the Pastoral Dance, followed by [[Dionysus]] introducing his Heroic Dance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDH55196|title=Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheus|website=Hyperion Records|language=en|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref>

In 1930, musicologist [[Jean Chantavoine]] and playwright [[Maurice Léna]] made a detailed reconstruction of the plot in relation to the music, based on sources that have stood the test of time.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Les Créatures de Prométhée|author=Jean Chantavoine|language=fr|publisher=Heugel|date=1930}}</ref> A summary of this reconstruction is given below.

== Music and reconstruction of the plot ==
[[Overture]]

Act 1 opens with an introduction, followed by three numbers.<ref>[http://www.naxos.com/SharedFiles/pdf/rear/8.553404r.pdf# "Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770–1827), ''The Creatures of Prometheus'', Ballet Op. 43], [[Melbourne Symphony Orchestra]], [[Michael Halasz]]], back cover (1995).</ref>
{{ordered list|start=0
|Introduction – Humanity is represented as two still lifeless statues at the [[Mount Olympus|Olympus]] (originally played by [[Maria Casentini]] and Salvatore Viganò, who also created the choreography). Zeus tries to stop Prometheus giving the fire to the people through a fierce storm. Yet Prometheus succeeds. He collapses in exhaustion.
|Poco adagio – The two statues come to life (first the man and then the woman). Without further life experience, the two dance around carefree, to the annoyance of Prometheus.
|Adagio – allegro con brio – Prometheus is angry at the unmannerliness of the two statues and he considers destroying humanity. But heaven intervenes. A divine light makes him change his mind.
|Minuetto – Prometheus now plans to educate the people by taking them to the [[Parnassus]]. In this minuet he introduces them with flowers and fruit respectively. At the end the trio heads away, towards the Parnassus. Curtain.}}

Act 2 includes another 13 numbers:
{{ordered list|start=4
|Maestoso – Andante – The gods, led by [[Apollo]], have taken place on a temple on the Parnassus. Prometheus arrives with the two humans and explains that they need to be educated so that they develop minds and emotions. The lessons begin.
|Adagio – Andante quasi allegretto – Their feelings are aroused by harp playing of [[Amphion]], flute playing of [[Euterpe]] (some sources mention [[Arion]]) and cello playing of [[Orpheus]]. The man and woman fall in love with each other.
|Un poco adagio – Allegro – Joyful dance of the two humans, for whom a world has opened.
|Grave – The humans show respect for Prometheus and Apollo. The lesson continues.
|Allegro con brio – Presto – By the god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] they are taught the martial art by means of an impressive procession.
|Adagio – Allegro molto – But then death comes in the form of [[Melpomene]]. Since Prometheus was the bringer of not only life, but with it death, she considers it righteous to punish him with death. He is overthrown. A long hiatus. In the dark, Prometheus appears to be dead.
|Pastorale – [[Thalia (grace)|Thaleia]] makes death recoil by summoning youth and nature to oppose it. Prometheus awakes and watches the scene.
|Andante – At a sign of [[Dionysus]], [[Silenus]] enters.
|Maestoso (also known as "Solo di Gioia" for solo dancer [[Gaetano Gioia]]) – Procession of Silenus (some sources name Dionysus). Danse comique that revolves around wine.
|Allegro – Comodo – Dance of [[Pan (god)|Pan]] and two [[fauns]] or [[nymphs]].
|Andante – Adagio (also known as "Solo della Casentini", written for Beethoven's prima ballerina, [[Maria Casentini]]) – The [[charites|three graces]] continue to work on the emotional development of the woman. Solo of the prima ballerina. [[Cupid|Cupids]] arrive. The wedding is being prepared.
|Andantino – Adagio (also known as "Solo di Viganò") – The man is brought before Apollo. Solo of the [[principal dancer|primo ballerino]] and duet.
|Finale – Wedding where different groups enter, pay tribute to the gods and celebrate the success of Prometheus' mission.}}

According to musicologist [[Lewis Lockwood]], Beethoven's music for this ballet is "easier and lighter than music for the concert hall ... [I]t shows Beethoven exploiting instruments and coloristic orchestral effects that would never appear in his symphonies or serious dramatic overtures."<ref name=Lockwood>[[Lewis Lockwood|Lockwood, Lewis]]. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=u5596V_Q9wQC&pg=PA149 Beethoven: The Music and the Life]'', pp. 149–150 (W. W. Norton & Company, 2005).</ref> Beethoven later based the fourth movement of his [[Symphony No. 3 (Beethoven)|''Eroica'' symphony]] and his ''[[Eroica Variations]]'' (piano) on the main theme of the last movement (Finale) of this ballet.<ref name=Lockwood />

The ballet requires the use of [[harp]] and [[basset horn]] among the orchestral instruments, instruments Beethoven rarely employed.<ref>[http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Cedes/TheCds_Stage_CreaturesOfPrometheus.html ''The Creatures of Prometheus''], LVBeethoven.com]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Prometheus#Classical music, opera, and ballet|Prometheus in other musical works]]

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* {{IMSLP|work=Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus Op.43 (Beethoven, Ludwig van)|cname=''The Creatures of Prometheus''}}
* {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1Xx7HSoJxU |title=Philharmonia Sessions: Beethoven's Prometheus|date=4 December 2020 |type=Video |via=[[YouTube]] |publisher=[[Philharmonia Orchestra]] |others=Narrated by [[Stephen Fry]], animation by Hillary Leben |access-date=29 October 2021}}
* {{cite web |title=Overture to ''The Creatures of Prometheus'' |last=Rodda |first=Richard E. |website=[[Kennedy Center]] |department=Program note |access-date=29 October 2021 |date=30 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-09-25 |url=http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/?fuseaction=composition&composition_id=5035 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925131510/http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/?fuseaction=composition&composition_id=5035}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Creatures of Prometheus, The}}
[[Category:1801 compositions]]
[[Category:1800s ballets]]
[[Category:1801 works]]
[[Category:Prometheus]]
[[Category:Silenus]]
[[Category:Dionysus]]
[[Category:Works based on classical mythology]]
[[Category:Ballets by Ludwig van Beethoven]]
[[Category:Fauns in popular culture]]
[[Category:Symphony No. 3 (Beethoven)]]