Sylvia (ballet) facts for kids
Sylvia is a famous ballet with beautiful music. It was first shown in Paris, France, in 1876. The dances were created by Louis Mérante, and the music was written by a composer named Léo Delibes. The story of the ballet comes from ancient myths. One of the most well-known pieces of music from Sylvia is called the "Pizzicato," which sounds like plucked strings.
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What is Sylvia About?
Sylvia tells a story from mythology. It's about a character named Sylvia, who is a hunter and a follower of the goddess Diana. Diana is the goddess of the hunt and the moon. Sylvia doesn't believe in love and tries to avoid it.
Main Characters
- Sylvia: A brave huntress who serves the goddess Diana.
- Aminta: A shepherd who falls in love with Sylvia.
- Eros: The god of love, also known as Cupid.
- Diana: The powerful goddess of the hunt.
The Story of Love and Magic
The ballet's story begins with Aminta, a shepherd, who secretly loves Sylvia. He watches her while she is hunting. Sylvia and her friends find Aminta and attack him because he is watching them. Eros, the god of love, tries to help Aminta, but Sylvia shoots Eros with an arrow.
Later, Sylvia is also shot by one of Eros's arrows. This makes her fall in love with Aminta. However, a bad hunter named Orion kidnaps Sylvia. Aminta is very sad, but Eros helps him. Eros shows Aminta a vision of Sylvia and takes him to Diana's temple.
At the temple, Sylvia escapes from Orion. She asks Diana for protection. Orion tries to fight, but Diana kills him. Diana is angry with Sylvia for falling in love, but Eros reminds Diana that she once loved someone too. Diana then allows Sylvia and Aminta to be together. The ballet ends with everyone celebrating their love.
The Music of Sylvia
The music for Sylvia was written by Léo Delibes. He was a French composer. His music for Sylvia is very famous and beautiful. It helps tell the story and shows the feelings of the characters.
The Famous Pizzicato
One of the most popular parts of the ballet's music is the "Pizzicato." In music, "pizzicato" means to pluck the strings of an instrument, like a violin, instead of using a bow. This gives the music a light, bouncy sound. The "Pizzicato" from Sylvia is often played on its own, even outside of the ballet.
Performances of Sylvia
Sylvia was first performed in Paris in 1876. Over the years, many famous dancers have performed in Sylvia. It has been staged by different ballet companies around the world. Each new production might have slightly different costumes or sets, but the beautiful music and story remain the same.
Images for kids
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Olga Preobrajenska as Sylvia in 1901
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Sergei Legat as the shepherd Aminta in 1901. This photo shows him being hit by Sylvia's arrow.
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Margot Fonteyn kneeling before Julia Farron (Diana) in a 1952 show
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Gillian Murphy and Maxim Beloserkovsky as Sylvia and Aminta in a 2005 show
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Angel Corella as Aminta in a 2005 show
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Paloma Herrera as Sylvia (center) in a 2005 show
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A small part of the music score for the "Pizzicato" from Sylvia
See also
In Spanish: Sylvia (ballet) para niños
