The Creatures of Prometheus
Beethoven's only full-length ballet, premiered in 1801.
Mary Shelley · Public domain
Ludwig van Beethoven’s only full-length ballet, *The Creatures of Prometheus* (Op. 43), dates from 1801. The libretto was written by Salvatore Viganò. Its first performance took place at Vienna’s Burgtheater on 28 March 1801, where it ran for 28 shows. On 14 June 1808, the ballet reached the United States at New York’s Park Theatre, making it one of the earliest complete Beethoven works heard in America.
Viganò had been asked to create a piece for Archduchess Maria Theresa at the Vienna Court Theatre. He chose an allegorical treatment of Prometheus. Though Viganò usually wrote his own music, he considered this commission too important and instead asked Beethoven to compose the score. The ballet has two acts, with Beethoven providing an overture, an introduction, fifteen numbers, and a finale.
The story is an allegory drawn from the myth of Prometheus, who stole fire from Zeus to shape humanity from clay. In this version, Prometheus finds people ignorant and decides to bring them science and art—a reflection of Beethoven’s own Enlightenment ideals. He introduces humans to Apollo, god of the arts, who then commands Amphion, Arion, and Orpheus to teach music, and Melpomene and Thalia to teach tragedy and comedy. Later, Terpsichore and Pan present the Pastoral Dance, and Dionysus offers the Heroic Dance. In 1930, musicologist Jean Chantavoine and playwright Maurice Léna produced a detailed reconstruction of the plot matched to the music, based on sources that have remained reliable.
Act 1 begins with an introduction and three numbers. Act 2 contains thirteen more numbers. According to musicologist Lewis Lockwood, the ballet’s music is “easier and lighter than music for the concert hall,” showing Beethoven using instruments and coloristic orchestral effects he never employed in his symphonies or serious dramatic overtures. The main theme of the ballet’s Finale later served as the basis for the fourth movement of Beethoven’s *Eroica* Symphony and for his *Eroica Variations* for piano. The orchestration calls for harp and basset horn, instruments Beethoven rarely used elsewhere.
- Composer
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Librettist
- Salvatore Viganò
- Premiere date
- 28 March 1801
- Premiere venue
- Burgtheater, Vienna
- Opus
- 43
- Genre
- Ballet
- Number of acts
- 2
Lore & Background
Viganò was tasked with presenting a work to the Archduchess 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. The ballet was written in two acts, with Beethoven creating an overture, an introduction, fifteen numbers, and a finale.
The ballet is an allegory based on the mythical story of Prometheus, who stole fire from Zeus in order to 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 Enlightenment movement. Prometheus introduces the humans to Apollo, the god of the arts, who commands Amphion, Arion and Orpheus to teach music, and Melpomene and Thalia to teach tragedy and comedy. The humans also meet with Terpsichore who, along with Pan, introduces them to the Pastoral Dance, followed by Dionysus introducing his Heroic Dance.
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.
Reader's Guide
The Creatures of Prometheus holds significance as Beethoven's only full-length ballet and as an early example of his work being performed in the United States. 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.' The ballet requires the use of harp and basset horn among the orchestral instruments, instruments Beethoven rarely employed. Beethoven later based the fourth movement of his Eroica symphony and his Eroica Variations (piano) on the main theme of the last movement (Finale) of this ballet. The work reflects Enlightenment ideals through its allegorical treatment of Prometheus bringing science and art to humanity.
Did You Know?
- 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 on 14 June 1808, one of the first full-length works by Beethoven performed in the United States.
- Beethoven later used the main theme of the Finale for the fourth movement of his Eroica symphony and his Eroica Variations for piano.
- The orchestration includes harp and basset horn, instruments Beethoven rarely employed.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed The Creatures of Prometheus?
Ludwig van Beethoven wrote the music for this ballet, Op. 43, which remains the only full-length ballet he ever composed. The libretto was crafted by Salvatore Viganò, who typically scored his own productions but instead turned to Beethoven for this allegorical Prometheus piece.
What is The Creatures of Prometheus?
It is a full-length ballet (Op. 43) built around an allegorical treatment of the Prometheus myth, pairing Beethoven's score with a libretto by Salvatore Viganò. The work was originally conceived as a court performance for Archduchess Maria Theresa at the Vienna Court Theatre.
When and where did The Creatures of Prometheus premiere?
The ballet first opened on 28 March 1801 at the Burgtheater in Vienna, where it ran for 28 consecutive performances. It was staged as a special commission for Archduchess Maria Theresa.
Why is The Creatures of Prometheus important in Beethoven's catalog?
It stands as the sole full-length ballet Beethoven ever composed, making it a unique and rare entry in his output. The fact that Viganò, who normally wrote his own music, specifically sought Beethoven out underscores the piece's special status.
When did The Creatures of Prometheus first reach the United States?
The ballet was performed at New York's Park Theatre on 14 June 1808, making it one of the earliest complete Beethoven works heard in America. That transatlantic staging helped introduce his music to American audiences well before his later symphonies arrived.
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