Picasso a écrit
un ballet satirique en 2 actes contre les Nazis occupants de Paris.
Représentation le 30 septembre 1973 à Waeszawska Jesien sous la Direction de Mieczyslaw Nowakowski, Chorégraphie de Jerzy Makarowski et Mise en scène de Andrzej Majewski
Picasso's play Le Désir attrapé par la queue [Desire trapped by the tail], on which the libretto of the ballet is based, refers to the author's indecision whether to remain in Paris or to emigrate during the Nazi occupation of France. The Big Foot personifies Picasso, the Eclair the temptation of pleasant life abroad, the Cousin France, the Guardian of Public Morality a censor and the Thin and Fat Terrors the fear which took hold of Picasso and the whole France. The play is about overcoming fear which ''craves'' its victims. The structure of the ballet resembles a modern divertissement composed of stylistically different scenes, which are grotesque and surrealistic by turns. Acrobatic and mechanical manoeuvres refer to the experiments of Picasso as a stage designer of Diaghilev's ''Ballet Russes''.
AutorBarbara CisowskaŹródłoRuch Muzyczny nr 13 1 lipca 1973
Influence of Picasso's 'Le désir attrapé par la queue' on Grażyna Bacewicz's Ballet 'Désir' in 1968
1. Influence de la pièce de théâtre de Picasso:
- La pièce de théâtre de Pablo Picasso, 'Le désir attrapé par la queue', a influencé la création du ballet de Grażyna Bacewicz en 1968.
- Grażyna Bacewicz s'est intéressée à l'écriture dramatique de Picasso, inspirée par les émotions primitives de peur et d'anxiété ainsi que par l'ambiguïté dramatique et le grotesque de l'expression.
2. Contexte artistique de Picasso:
- Picasso, connu pour son cubisme, a également eu des relations littéraires avec le surréalisme dans les années 1930 et 1940.
- La pièce de théâtre de Picasso reflète des émotions intenses et une peur croissante, exprimant un véritable drame intérieur en lien avec la période de l'occupation nazie à Paris.
3. Contenu de l'art de Picasso:
- Le style bouffe, les personnages grotesques et la présence de situations surréalistes caractérisent l'art de Picasso lors de cette période.
- La pièce 'Le désir attrapé par la queue' exprime des émotions primitives telles que la peur, l'impuissance et la peur universelle.
4. Thème et symbolique de la pièce de Picasso:
- Le titre 'Le désir attrapé par la queue' reflète le désir de possession ainsi que le désir sexuel, abordé de manière expressive et ambiguë.
- La pièce est également marquée par un contraste rigoureux entre des éléments obscènes et des déclarations de sentiments sublimes, exprimant le grotesque de la réalité.
5. Relation avec d'autres œuvres théâtrales contemporaines:
- L'idée de mettre en scène de grandes passions humaines est présente dans d'autres ballets et opéras contemporains, tel que 'Abstrakte Oper' de Borys Blacher et 'Sonate après la lecture de Dante' de Frédéric Ashton.
- Le ballet 'Désir' de Grażyna Bacewicz actualise et approfondit cette idée en exprimant des états mentaux primaires à travers des danses distinctes, reflétant des peurs et des sentiments humains profonds.
6. Expression artistique dans le ballet 'Désir':
- Le ballet 'Désir' de Grażyna Bacewicz explore des thèmes tels que la peur, le conflit entre l'obscurité et la lumière, la peur de l'inconnu et la création de structures menaçantes par l'homme.
- Le ballet utilise des danses distinctes pour exprimer ces thèmes, tels que 'Atomic Fear', 'Ballet des Innocents', 'Ballet cybernétique' et 'Aerial Ballet'.
7. Resultado creativo:
- El ballet de Grażyna Bacewicz, creado en 1968 con base en una obra teatral de Pablo Picasso, explora emociones primarias como el miedo y la ansiedad, además del conflicto entre lo sublime y lo vulgar en la expresión artística.
- La obra 'Désir' de Grażyna Bacewicz actualiza la idea de expresar estados mentales primarios a través de danzas distintas, reflejando miedos y sentimientos humanos profundos.
8. Conclusión:
- El ballet 'Désir' ofrece una exploración artística de emociones primarias y temas de miedo, conflicto y creación humana, enraizados en la obra teatral de Picasso y vinculados a expresiones artísticas contemporáneas.
9. Ballet "Désir" as an Abstract Performance:
- The ballet "Désir" can be considered as an abstract ballet expressing contradictory emotional states through movement and rhythm.
- It emphasizes certain emotional states against a backdrop of a 'quasi-action' rather than a strict dramatic ballet, focusing on individual character dances and the demonstration of dance technique.
10. Freedom in Artistic Interpretation:
- The belonging to an abstract ballet company offers considerable freedom for the director of "Désir".
- The choice of concept depends on the individual aesthetic attitudes of the performers.
11. Structure and Tensions:
- The ballet is composed of two acts, each divided into three larger and independent units with titles.
- The composition predominantly follows the form of a three-part arrangement often based on ABA or serial form.
12. Musical Functions in the Ballet:
- The music of the ballet fulfills three functions: characterizing the characters and situations, expressing mental states, and providing a background for the dance through appropriate movements and musical accents.
- Each character has characteristic musical equivalents, including leitmotifs and specific sound and rhythmic structures.
13. Emotional and Erotic Themes:
- The ballet introduces emotional and erotic themes through various musical and choreographic elements.
- It brings out a contrast between intimate scenes and large collective character dances, showcasing different emotional and humorous elements.
14. Artistic Expressions:
- The ballet uses conventional and proven musical means to create the right atmosphere and mood.
- The music also employs additional sound effects and vocal dialogues to emphasize the grotesque character.
15. Points of Culmination:
- The ballet builds up tension and culminates in several key points throughout the performance.
- These culminations involve a variety of instrumental and vocal effects, enhancing the overall impact of the ballet.
16. Merging of Art Forms:
- The ballet showcases the convergence of different art forms, including music, dance, and visual expression, to convey a multi-dimensional narrative.
- It represents the artistic collaboration of choreographers, composers, and performers to create a cohesive artistic experience.
17. Main Characters and Musical Contrast:
- Bigfoot and Ekierka represent the deepest material contrast in the work.
- Bigfoot is characterized by a predominant rhythm, minor and major second intervals, and a dry, staccato sound, representing aggression and dynamism.
18. Illustrative Scenes and Expressing Emotions:
- Scenes are illustrated using specially selected instruments, expressing specific mental states and emotions.
- Specific emotions are expressed through particular textural and spatial situations.
19. Characteristic Dances and Musical Background:
- The characteristic dances have a musical background with unique accentuation and motility.
- The result is lively and colorful music devoid of conventional dances and rhythmic pulsations.
20. Temporal Development and Musical Form:
- The music shows two opposing trends in temporal development.
- Despite captivating vitality and expression, there are instances of short-breathed sections, hindering the work of the choreographer.
21. Unfinished Composition and Final Scene:
- The composition of 'Désir,' the last work of Grażyna Bacewicz, remained unfinished, with the final scene completed by Bogusław Madey in 1970.
- The stylistic differences in the unfinished work and the completed final passage by Madey.
22. Conclusion and Audience Interpretation:
- The preservation of Bacewicz's original work in the first staging of 'Desire' is considered valuable.
- The audience and critics are left to interpret the optimal musical equivalent and the compatibility of the composer's intentions.
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