Margot Fonteyn in LES SYLPHIDES ballet, or CHOPINIANA with The Royal Ballet

Enjoy this beautiful Pas de Deux of Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev, in early 1960, in the LES SYLPHIDES ballet with The Royal Ballet.

LES SYLPHIDES, also known as "Chopiniana," is a one-act ballet initially choreographed by Michel Fokine.
The music for "Les Sylphides" is actually a compilation of various pieces by Chopin, arranged and orchestrated by Russian composer Alexander Glazunov in 1909, and was premiered as a classical ballet in the same year at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. LES SYLPHIDES is considered one of the first abstract ballets, as it does not have a traditional narrative or plotline.

The ballet is set to the music of Frédéric Chopin, specifically a selection of his piano compositions. The music is primarily drawn from Chopin's nocturnes, mazurkas, preludes, and waltzes. The choreography by Fokine showcases the ethereal and romantic qualities of Chopin's music.

The setting of Les Sylphides is a moonlit clearing in a forest, where a group of sylphs, or woodland spirits, come out to dance. The ballet features a male protagonist, often called "The Poet" or "The Dreamer," who encounters and interacts with the sylphs throughout the performance. The Poet is often portrayed as a figure yearning for a transcendent experience or seeking artistic inspiration.

Les Sylphides has become a staple of the classical ballet repertoire, captivating audiences with its timeless beauty, evocative music, and enchanting portrayal of the ethereal world of the sylphs.

Music by Frédéric Chopin
Choreography by Michel Fokine

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