Sylvia (ballet)

Lore & Background

The origins of Sylvia lie in the Italian poet Tasso's play Aminta (1573), which provided the basic plot for Delibes' music. Jules Barbier and Baron de Reinach adapted the libretto for the Paris Opera. Rehearsals began on 15 August 1875, with only the first third of the music complete; Delibes revised the score throughout rehearsals, aided by Mérante and lead dancer Rita Sangalli. The premiere on 14 June 1876 at the Salle Le Peletier featured lavish scenery by Jules Chéret, but poor stage lighting and Sangalli's modest dancing skills contributed to the ballet's lack of immediate success. Delibes' score was credited with saving the production from obscurity.

A notable Russian production by the Imperial Ballet premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre on 15 December 1901, choreographed by Lev Ivanov and Pavel Gerdt, with Olga Preobrajenska in the title role. Despite Preobrajenska's success, the production was criticized for poor choreography and a slight libretto, and was removed after five performances. Excerpts were later toured by Anna Pavlova, whose London performance inspired a young Frederick Ashton to create his own version in 1952.

Ashton's 1952 revival for the Royal Ballet, with Margot Fonteyn as Sylvia, popularized the work. Subsequent productions in 1997, 2004, 2005, and 2009 were all based on Ashton's choreography. The 2004 San Francisco Ballet production, choreographed by Mark Morris, was the only recent one not based on Ashton's work, adhering closely to the original 1876 production.

Reader's Guide

Sylvia holds significance as a classical ballet that initially failed to capture critical or commercial attention but was later revived to become a staple of the repertoire. Its music by Léo Delibes is widely regarded as the work's saving grace, elevating it above its original choreographic and libretto shortcomings. The ballet's history illustrates the collaborative and often fraught process of ballet creation, with Delibes revising his score under pressure from choreographer Mérante and dancer Sangalli. The 1952 revival by Frederick Ashton, designed as a tribute to Margot Fonteyn, transformed the ballet's fortunes and established the choreographic standard for most subsequent productions. The 2004 San Francisco Ballet production by Mark Morris stands out as a deliberate return to Mérante's original style, emphasizing the interdependence of Delibes' music and the original choreography. Sylvia's legacy is thus one of resilience and adaptation, from a neglected premiere to a celebrated work through Ashton's vision.

Did You Know?

• The ballet's premiere on 14 June 1876 took place at the Salle Le Peletier, not the Palais Garnier.
• The original choreographer Louis Mérante demanded changes to Delibes' score to accommodate the choreography.
• The 1901 Russian production was choreographed by Lev Ivanov and Pavel Gerdt, with Olga Preobrajenska as Sylvia.
• Frederick Ashton's 1952 revival was inspired by memories of Anna Pavlova's performance of excerpts from the ballet.