The Seasons (ballet)
One-act allegorical ballet by Petipa and Glazunov.
The one-act, four-scene allegorical ballet *The Seasons* (Russian: *Vremena goda*; French: *Les Saisons*) was choreographed by Marius Petipa and set to music by Alexander Glazunov, his Op. 67. Glazunov composed the score in 1899, and the Imperial Ballet first presented the work on 26 February [O.S. 13 February] 1900 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The piece stands as a significant example of late-19th-century Russian ballet, and its score has been recorded by many orchestras.
The ballet’s music was composed entirely by Glazunov, with no swap of assignments involving Riccardo Drigo. The premiere took place at the Imperial Theatre of the Hermitage on 26 February [O.S. 13 February] 1900, with the Imperial court in attendance. In 1907, Nikolai Legat staged a revival at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre. This production was performed occasionally by the Imperial Ballet until the Russian Revolution of 1917, after which the Imperial Ballet ceased to exist. The last known performance of the original Petipa production was in 1907. An abridged edition of *Les Saisons* survived in the repertory of Anna Pavlova’s touring company.
The world premiere, on 23 February [O.S. 10 February] 1900, was held at the Imperial Theatre of the Hermitage in the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg. Marius Petipa served as balletmaster, Riccardo Drigo conducted, Pyotr Lambin designed the scenes, and Yevgeni Ponomaryov designed the costumes. A subsequent production on 13 February 1900 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre used the same ensemble. The 1907 revival at the Mariinsky Theatre, staged by Nikolay Legat and conducted by Drigo, featured décor by Lambin and costumes by Aleksandr Golovin. The score was published in 1901 by M.P. Belyayev in Leipzig.
- Composer
- Alexander Glazunov
- Choreographer
- Marius Petipa
- Year composed
- 1899
- Premiere date
- 26 February [O.S. 13 February] 1900
- Premiere location
- Imperial Theatre of the Hermitage, St. Petersburg
- Genre
- Allegorical ballet
- Opus number
- Op. 67
Reader's Guide
The Seasons holds significance as a collaborative work between two major figures of Russian ballet: Marius Petipa, the choreographer, and Alexander Glazunov, the composer. Its premiere at the Imperial Theatre of the Hermitage before the Imperial court underscores its status as a courtly entertainment. The ballet's structure—four tableaux representing Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn, plus an Apotheosis—follows a clear allegorical tradition. The music, Op. 67, has been recorded by many conductors, including Ernest Ansermet, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Neeme Järvi, ensuring its continued presence in the concert hall. The work's legacy includes revivals by Nikolai Legat and its use by Anna Pavlova's company, though it was last performed by the Imperial Ballet in 1927. The detailed instrumentation, including celesta and pianino, reflects Glazunov's orchestral palette.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Seasons (ballet)?
It is a one-act, four-scene allegorical ballet in which the four seasons are personified through dance, set to Alexander Glazunov's Op. 67 score and choreographed by Marius Petipa. Faun figures appear within its pastoral, mythological staging as part of the natural-world imagery surrounding each season.
What role do fauns play in The Seasons (ballet)?
Fauns serve as nature-spirit characters woven into the allegorical tableau of each seasonal scene, reinforcing the work's pastoral and mythological atmosphere. They are not the central protagonists but function as part of the living landscape that accompanies the four personified seasons.
How does The Seasons (ballet) end?
The ballet closes with its fourth and final scene representing Winter, completing the full annual cycle. The four-scene structure brings the allegorical journey to a natural, cyclical conclusion rather than a dramatic narrative climax.
Why is The Seasons (ballet) important to faun representation in dance?
As a major late-19th-century Russian production, it helped embed the faun as a recognizable figure in classical ballet's visual vocabulary. Its choreography and staging gave performers a concrete, theatrical model for portraying these pastoral spirits on the Imperial stage.
Who created The Seasons (ballet) and when did it premiere?
Marius Petipa choreographed the work and Alexander Glazunov composed the score (Op. 67, written in 1899). The Imperial Ballet gave its first performance at the Imperial Theatre of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg on 26 February 1900.
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