The ballet Sylvia is based on the play Aminta written by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso. It is a ballet performed in three acts with characters that are taken from mythology. The music used in the ballet is by Lo Delibes the French composer and is often cited as one of Delibes's greatest pieces of work. Unfortunately it could not live up to the acclaim of its music and its debut was met with a lukewarm response. Future performances of Sylvia were also unsuccessful and the ballet all but disappeared from the stage for many years.
Sir Frederick Ashton revived the ballet in 1952, however Sylvia still received a lukewarm reception, with many critics believing the story to be over complicated and confusing. Ashton revised the storyline further changing it into a one-act ballet but Sylvia never became as popular as other ballets and this version was last performed in 1965. A former student of Ashton's called Christopher Newton resurrected Sylvia once again in 2001, as he knew that Sir Frederick had always wanted to try again and change the ballet into three acts. In recent times the new version of Sylvia has received a better reception than previously.
The main characters in the ballet are Sylvia a nymph huntress and Aminta a young shepherd who is in love with Sylvia. The other protagonists come from mythology - the God of Love Eros and Diana the Goddess of hunting. The malevolent force within the ballet comes in the guise of Orion, a hunter who also desires Sylvia's affections. Various forest creatures, nymphs and dryads provide the ballet's pastoral imagery, with other minor characters such as peasants and hunt attendants featured.
A Sacred wood is the title of the first act of Sylvia and the ballet begins with a ritualistic scene featuring the forest creatures and nymphs dancing for the God Eros. Both Aminta and Sylvia stumble upon the scene and while Aminta remains hidden Sylvia and her hunt attendants make themselves known and mock Eros. Sylvia shoots an arrow at the hidden Aminta, not realizing it is her ardent suitor, but injures both Eros and Aminta with her arrow. The malevolent force in the play is Orion who is also in love with Sylvia and he has been watching the whole scene unfold and he uses the ensuing confusion as an opportunity to kidnap Sylvia.
In the second Act of Sylvia, entitled Orion's Island Cave, we find Sylvia being held against her will by Orion. Sylvia refuses all of Orion's attempts to win her over and hatches a plan to get him drunk so she can escape. She appeals to the God of love Eros for help and he appears along with a vision for Sylvia of Aminta waiting for her at Diana's temple. Eros helps Sylvia to escape taking her to the temple to be reunited with Aminta.
The final act - The Sea Coast Near The Temple Of Diana - sees Sylvia and Aminta briefly reunited however Orion is fast to catch up with them and starts to fight with Aminta. During the fight Orion tries to enter Diana's shrine, which is forbidden making the Goddess angry and she refuses to allow Aminta and Sylvia to be together. However all is not lost as God of love Eros presents Diana with a vision of her own young love. The memory of this past love results in Diana reversing her decision and Sylvia and Amintas' union is allowed with the good will of the Gods. - 40729
Sir Frederick Ashton revived the ballet in 1952, however Sylvia still received a lukewarm reception, with many critics believing the story to be over complicated and confusing. Ashton revised the storyline further changing it into a one-act ballet but Sylvia never became as popular as other ballets and this version was last performed in 1965. A former student of Ashton's called Christopher Newton resurrected Sylvia once again in 2001, as he knew that Sir Frederick had always wanted to try again and change the ballet into three acts. In recent times the new version of Sylvia has received a better reception than previously.
The main characters in the ballet are Sylvia a nymph huntress and Aminta a young shepherd who is in love with Sylvia. The other protagonists come from mythology - the God of Love Eros and Diana the Goddess of hunting. The malevolent force within the ballet comes in the guise of Orion, a hunter who also desires Sylvia's affections. Various forest creatures, nymphs and dryads provide the ballet's pastoral imagery, with other minor characters such as peasants and hunt attendants featured.
A Sacred wood is the title of the first act of Sylvia and the ballet begins with a ritualistic scene featuring the forest creatures and nymphs dancing for the God Eros. Both Aminta and Sylvia stumble upon the scene and while Aminta remains hidden Sylvia and her hunt attendants make themselves known and mock Eros. Sylvia shoots an arrow at the hidden Aminta, not realizing it is her ardent suitor, but injures both Eros and Aminta with her arrow. The malevolent force in the play is Orion who is also in love with Sylvia and he has been watching the whole scene unfold and he uses the ensuing confusion as an opportunity to kidnap Sylvia.
In the second Act of Sylvia, entitled Orion's Island Cave, we find Sylvia being held against her will by Orion. Sylvia refuses all of Orion's attempts to win her over and hatches a plan to get him drunk so she can escape. She appeals to the God of love Eros for help and he appears along with a vision for Sylvia of Aminta waiting for her at Diana's temple. Eros helps Sylvia to escape taking her to the temple to be reunited with Aminta.
The final act - The Sea Coast Near The Temple Of Diana - sees Sylvia and Aminta briefly reunited however Orion is fast to catch up with them and starts to fight with Aminta. During the fight Orion tries to enter Diana's shrine, which is forbidden making the Goddess angry and she refuses to allow Aminta and Sylvia to be together. However all is not lost as God of love Eros presents Diana with a vision of her own young love. The memory of this past love results in Diana reversing her decision and Sylvia and Amintas' union is allowed with the good will of the Gods. - 40729
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