On the Dnieper (Prokofiev)

On the Dnieper, also called Sur le Borysthène in French, is the fourth ballet (Op. 51) written by Sergei Prokofiev.

Background

Sergei Diaghilev, the impresario who had led Ballets Russes to distinguished success, died suddenly in 1929, hence ending Prokofiev's collaboration with the troupe. (The Prodigal Son was the last such collaboration). Seeing the success of the work, the Paris Opéra commissioned Prokofiev to write another ballet. Serge Lifar, formerly a close associate with Diaghilev, was responsible for creating the setting and choreography. However, he did not place any significance to the scenario. Rather, the ballet was created as a sequence of dances. On the Dnieper was the result of this collaboration.

The ballet was premiered in 1932, but it turned out to be a flop, especially when critics had been anticipating a work on the level of The Prodigal Son. The ballet was withdrawn from stage after a few performances, although Stravinsky and Milhaud warmly praised the music after the premiere.

Afterwards, Prokofiev extracted an orchestral suite from the ballet (as he did to his other stage works) as Op. 51a.

Analysis

Prokofiev continued to develop his lyrical line of composition in On the Dnieper, even more so than in The Prodigal Son. These two lyrical ballets provided much experience for the composer, who was about to start writing his first ballet in the Russian tradition: Romeo and Juliet.

Plot

The ballet contains 12 numbers, lasting around 40 minutes: Prelude
Scene 1: The Meeting
Scene 1: Mime Scene
Scene 1: Pas de deux
Scene 1: Variation of the First Dancer
Scene 2: Betrothal
Scene 2: Bridegroom's Dance
Scene 2: Bride's Dance
Scene 2: Men's Dance
Scene 2: The Quarrel
Scene 2: Mime Scene
Epilogue

Suite from ''On the Dnieper

Suite from ''On The Dnieper'', Op. 51a, is intended for concert performance and contains 6 movements, lasting for around 20 minutes: Prelude
Variation of the First Dancer
The Betrothal
The Quarrel
Scene
Epilogue