La Fille mal gardée
Cast 16.03.2023
Details
Lise loves Colas, but her mother has chosen another suitor for her: Alain, the simple son of a rich vintner. So the young couple will have to come up with a clever scheme to ensure they can stay together.
In 1960, Frederick Ashton created a wonderful comedy about this »girl who is poorly watched« that makes audiences of all ages laugh and gasp in amazement. With brilliant dancing he presents characters that are bursting with life in elegant soli and duets, ensemble scenes with a touch of folklore and comic mime scenes. Artful tricks with brightly-coloured ribbons are among the highlights, along with a clog dance and superbly comic scene featuring hens and a cockerel.
The story is based on a pantomime ballet by Jean Dauberval, which was first performed to music by Franz Ignaz Beck on 1 July 1789 at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux under the title Le Ballet de la paille, ou il n’est qu’un pas du mal au bien. As the audience on the eve of the French Revolution was able to identify with the character of the defiant and insubordinate Lise, the piece rapidly spread to theatres around the world in a variety of new choreographic and musical versions and was soon also seen in Vienna, being first performed at the Royal and Imperial Court Theatre in 1794, choreographed by the Italian Salvatore Viganò.
Frederick Ashton’s version has been in the Vienna State Ballet’s repertoire since 1986. The music, which was composed by Ferdinand Hérold in 1828 for a new Paris version by Dauberval’s pupil Jean-Pierre Aumer, was especially re-arranged for Ashton by John Lanchbery. As well as several freshly composed scenes, the famous Fanny Elßler pas de deux for the two protagonists, to music from Gaetano Donizetti’s opera L’elisir d’amore, also found its way back into the score, having originally been added to the piece for the famous Viennese dancer Fanny Elßler when she made her debut as Lise in Paris.
ACT I
Scene 1 – The Farmyard
The dawn of a busy day on the farm is heralded by the cock and his attendant hens. Lise, disappointed at not seeing Colas, leaves a ribbon tied in a lover’s knot, as a token of her devotion. He finds it and binds it to his staff. The lovers meet, but are interrupted by Simone, who sets her daughter a task churning butter. Colas, in hiding in the loft, joins her. The work is shared and then forgotten as they declare their love. The farm girls summon Lise to play, but her mind is elsewhere. Her suspicious and ever watchful mother catches hold of her and chastises her. Just then Thomas, the pompous and wealthy proprietor of a vineyard, arrives with his son Alain. Simone, aware of their mission, dismisses Lise and Thomas asks her hand for his son. When Lise returns, Alain coyly and clumsily shows off his paces. She is amused and a little shocked by his antics, but definitely not interested. They set off for the harvest.
Scene 2 – The Cornfield
It is harvest time, and after working in the fields the harvesters, led by Colas, relax in a joyful dance. Lise and Alain dance, but Colas intervenes, and the young girl makes it clear where her preference lies. One of the harvesters plays the flute to everybody’s general merriment and Alain thinks he will take a turn; but the harvesters mock him and he is rescued from their horseplay by his indignant father. The field is now left clear for the triumphant Colas, who dances with Lise. Simone joins in the merriment of the harvesters. Suddenly they are interrupted by a storm that drenches them, scattering them far and wide.
ACT II
Interior of the Farmhouse
Mother and daughter, soaked by the storm, return to the farmhouse. They sit down to spin; work, thinks the mother, should keep Lise out of mischief. But she is overcome by sleep and Lise, who has seen Colas through the gate, tries to take the key from her. Simone awakes and, in order to remain watchful, plays the tambourine for Lise to dance. But the taps grow feebler, she begins to nod, and now she is fast asleep. Colas opens the top part of the farmhouse door and leans towards Lise. She runs joyfully into his arms. The knocking of the harvesters, coming for their pay, awakens Simone. Simone tells her daughter to get on with her chores as she leaves to give the harvesters a drink. Lise, thinking she is alone, dreams of the delights of married life. Colas cannot resist, and comes out from hiding. She is bashful at having been taken by surprise, but once again they declare their love, exchanging scarves as a token.
As Simone reappears, Lise hustles Colas into her bedroom. The ever-suspicious mother realises that the lovers have been meeting, and in her turn hustles Lise into the bedroom, locking the door. Alain and his father now arrive with a notary to complete the contract. When it has been signed, Simone hands Alain the bedroom key. After a moment of idiotic indecision, he opens the door and to everyone’s dismay Colas and Lise emerge. The lovers fall on their knees to ask Simone for forgiveness and a blessing. In spite of Thomas and Alain, she finally gives in amidst general rejoicing.
Lise loves Colas, but her mother has chosen another suitor for her: Alain, the simple son of a rich vintner. So the young couple will have to come up with a clever scheme to ensure they can stay together.
In 1960, Frederick Ashton created a wonderful comedy about this »girl who is poorly watched« that makes audiences of all ages laugh and gasp in amazement. With brilliant dancing he presents characters that are bursting with life in elegant soli and duets, ensemble scenes with a touch of folklore and comic mime scenes. Artful tricks with brightly-coloured ribbons are among the highlights, along with a clog dance and superbly comic scene featuring hens and a cockerel.
The story is based on a pantomime ballet by Jean Dauberval, which was first performed to music by Franz Ignaz Beck on 1 July 1789 at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux under the title Le Ballet de la paille, ou il n’est qu’un pas du mal au bien. As the audience on the eve of the French Revolution was able to identify with the character of the defiant and insubordinate Lise, the piece rapidly spread to theatres around the world in a variety of new choreographic and musical versions and was soon also seen in Vienna, being first performed at the Royal and Imperial Court Theatre in 1794, choreographed by the Italian Salvatore Viganò.
Frederick Ashton’s version has been in the Vienna State Ballet’s repertoire since 1986. The music, which was composed by Ferdinand Hérold in 1828 for a new Paris version by Dauberval’s pupil Jean-Pierre Aumer, was especially re-arranged for Ashton by John Lanchbery. As well as several freshly composed scenes, the famous Fanny Elßler pas de deux for the two protagonists, to music from Gaetano Donizetti’s opera L’elisir d’amore, also found its way back into the score, having originally been added to the piece for the famous Viennese dancer Fanny Elßler when she made her debut as Lise in Paris.
ACT I
Scene 1 – The Farmyard
The dawn of a busy day on the farm is heralded by the cock and his attendant hens. Lise, disappointed at not seeing Colas, leaves a ribbon tied in a lover’s knot, as a token of her devotion. He finds it and binds it to his staff. The lovers meet, but are interrupted by Simone, who sets her daughter a task churning butter. Colas, in hiding in the loft, joins her. The work is shared and then forgotten as they declare their love. The farm girls summon Lise to play, but her mind is elsewhere. Her suspicious and ever watchful mother catches hold of her and chastises her. Just then Thomas, the pompous and wealthy proprietor of a vineyard, arrives with his son Alain. Simone, aware of their mission, dismisses Lise and Thomas asks her hand for his son. When Lise returns, Alain coyly and clumsily shows off his paces. She is amused and a little shocked by his antics, but definitely not interested. They set off for the harvest.
Scene 2 – The Cornfield
It is harvest time, and after working in the fields the harvesters, led by Colas, relax in a joyful dance. Lise and Alain dance, but Colas intervenes, and the young girl makes it clear where her preference lies. One of the harvesters plays the flute to everybody’s general merriment and Alain thinks he will take a turn; but the harvesters mock him and he is rescued from their horseplay by his indignant father. The field is now left clear for the triumphant Colas, who dances with Lise. Simone joins in the merriment of the harvesters. Suddenly they are interrupted by a storm that drenches them, scattering them far and wide.
ACT II
Interior of the Farmhouse
Mother and daughter, soaked by the storm, return to the farmhouse. They sit down to spin; work, thinks the mother, should keep Lise out of mischief. But she is overcome by sleep and Lise, who has seen Colas through the gate, tries to take the key from her. Simone awakes and, in order to remain watchful, plays the tambourine for Lise to dance. But the taps grow feebler, she begins to nod, and now she is fast asleep. Colas opens the top part of the farmhouse door and leans towards Lise. She runs joyfully into his arms. The knocking of the harvesters, coming for their pay, awakens Simone. Simone tells her daughter to get on with her chores as she leaves to give the harvesters a drink. Lise, thinking she is alone, dreams of the delights of married life. Colas cannot resist, and comes out from hiding. She is bashful at having been taken by surprise, but once again they declare their love, exchanging scarves as a token.
As Simone reappears, Lise hustles Colas into her bedroom. The ever-suspicious mother realises that the lovers have been meeting, and in her turn hustles Lise into the bedroom, locking the door. Alain and his father now arrive with a notary to complete the contract. When it has been signed, Simone hands Alain the bedroom key. After a moment of idiotic indecision, he opens the door and to everyone’s dismay Colas and Lise emerge. The lovers fall on their knees to ask Simone for forgiveness and a blessing. In spite of Thomas and Alain, she finally gives in amidst general rejoicing.