The Poorly Guarded Girl or One Step from Bad to Good!
Entertaining French tale where love triumphs!
“La Fille mal gardée” (literally from French: “The Poorly Guarded Girl”) is one of the oldest and most important works in the modern ballet repertory, having been kept alive throughout its long performance history by way of many revivals. The work has undergone many title changes and has had no fewer than six scores, some of which were adaptations of older music.
The tale of Lise and Colas, two lovers separated by societal divisions but united by their love, embodied the fresh and revolutionary ideals of the Age of Enlightenment, a movement proclaimed by the French Revolution in 1789. In addition, it was the first to portray the main characters as peasants, depicting their everyday life, emotions and experiences. The plot of the work clearly shows the vain mother’s caution and that the moral principles of the peasants were superior to those of the nobility. During that time, depicting such themes on stage was rare and groundbreaking.
The author of the ballet was the French choreographer Jean Dauberval (1742-1806). He was inspired by Pierre-Antoine Baudouin’s painting “Rebuke / A young girl scolded by her mother” (“La rérimande / Une jeune fille querellée par sa mère”). The painting depicts a young girl in tears who is probably being scolded by her mother in a haystack. In the background, her lover is seen making a hasty escape to the attic. This storyline captivated Dauberval, who used it as the basis for his ballet.
The ballet was premiered at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux in France in 1789 under the title “The Ballet of Straw, or There is Only One Step from Bad to Good” (“Le ballet de la paille, ou Il n’est qu’un pas du mal au bien”).
As for the musical score, it initially consisted of 55 famous French airs. The surviving orchestral parts of the 1789 score do not list a composer/arranger, and no contemporary account of the original production mentions a composer. It is possible that Dauberval himself arranged the score, for he certainly devised the ballet’s scenario and was a competent violinist. If it was not his work, then it may have been one of the musicians employed by the theatre.
The name “La fille mal gardée” by which the ballet is known to this day, appeared two years later, in 1891, when the work was presented in London Royal Pantheon Theater (destroyed in 1937). Jean Dauberval also served as the choreographer for that production.
In the future, “La fille mal gardée” would be staged in many opera houses in different productions and with various musical scores. Various composers, including Ferdinand Hérold, Ludwig Minkus, Cesare Pugni, Leo Delibes, and Riccardo Drigo, have written music for the ballet and interludes. They often incorporated themes from popular songs or operas into their compositions.
One of such new versions is the ballet of 1828, created by choreographer Jean-Pierre Aumer (1774-1833), a student of Dauberval, especially for Paris Opera and its ballerina Pauline Montessu (1803-1877).
For this revival, the composer Ferdinand Hérold created an adaptation of the original score of 1789, which also contained themes from the operas of Jean-Paul-Égide Martini (1741-1816) and Gaetano Maria Donizetti (1797-1848).
Peter Ludwig Hertel (1817-1899), a German composer known for his dance and ballet music, created the iconic score for “La Fille mal gardée.” The production was choreographed by Paolo Taglioni (1808-1884) for the Königliches Opernhaus in Berlin (now the German State Opera) and premiered in 1864.
The premiere of this production in 1864 had a notable success, and this music is most often performed to this day.
The ballet “La Fille mal gardée” tells the story of a persistent peasant girl named Lise, who rebels against her mother Marcelina’s plans to marry her off to the son of the wealthy Thomas. After countless tricks, the girl marries Colas, the boy she loves. Through numerous tricks and schemes, Lise finally manages to marry Colas, the boy she loves. The ballet immerses the audience in the French countryside of the time, capturing the essence of routine, folk celebrations and traditions.
Over the decades, these characteristic elements of ballet were embodied in various sets, costumes, music and choreography in numerous productions. An essential component of the ballet has always been the comic situations between the mother and daughter and her suitors. The character of Marcelina, typically played by men, adds to the comedic effect.
Ballet has been influenced by the vaudeville genre, which translates to “voice of the city” in French. Vaudeville often centres around the daily lives of ordinary people, celebrating their work, emotions, and more. These same themes are present in “La Fille mal gardée”.
For Lviv National Opera, the ballet “La Fille mal gardée” has been one of the key performances of the repertoire since the mid-20th century. It was premiered at the theatre back in 1949, led by Yaroslav Voshchak as the conductor, with Mark Zeitlin as the choreographer and Fedir Nirod as the set designer. The production has been notable, running for over three decades at the theatre.
Another production of the ballet was presented by the theatre company in 1983. Conductor Ivan Yuziuk, choreographer Herman Isupov and set designer Tadei Ryndzak joined the production. Yevheniia Kostyliova, Anatolii Kucheruk and Oleh Pospielov played the leading roles in the premiere performances.
The 2023 at Lviv National Opera is the third production of this ballet. The author of the new choreography was the ballet master, People’s Artist of Ukraine Serhii Bondur, conductor Honoured Artist of Ukraine Yurii Bervetskyi, set designer People’s Artist of Ukraine Tadei Ryndzak, the costume designer Zhanna Maletska, the lighting designer Oleksandr Mezentsev.
The new production of “La Fille mal gardée” features Peter Hertel’s music and interludes composed by Adolf Adan and Ferdinand Herold.
We invite you to enjoy the stunning ambience of a French village, along with charming comedic moments and heartwarming love in the timeless ballet “La Fille mal gardée”. This beloved ballet performance has captured audiences’ hearts worldwide for over two centuries!
Natalia Mendiuk,
musicologist
The Poorly Guarded Girl or One Step from Bad to Good!
Entertaining French tale where love triumphs!
“La Fille mal gardée” (literally from French: “The Poorly Guarded Girl”) is one of the oldest and most important works in the modern ballet repertory, having been kept alive throughout its long performance history by way of many revivals. The work has undergone many title changes and has had no fewer than six scores, some of which were adaptations of older music.
The tale of Lise and Colas, two lovers separated by societal divisions but united by their love, embodied the fresh and revolutionary ideals of the Age of Enlightenment, a movement proclaimed by the French Revolution in 1789. In addition, it was the first to portray the main characters as peasants, depicting their everyday life, emotions and experiences. The plot of the work clearly shows the vain mother’s caution and that the moral principles of the peasants were superior to those of the nobility. During that time, depicting such themes on stage was rare and groundbreaking.
The author of the ballet was the French choreographer Jean Dauberval (1742-1806). He was inspired by Pierre-Antoine Baudouin’s painting “Rebuke / A young girl scolded by her mother” (“La rérimande / Une jeune fille querellée par sa mère”). The painting depicts a young girl in tears who is probably being scolded by her mother in a haystack. In the background, her lover is seen making a hasty escape to the attic. This storyline captivated Dauberval, who used it as the basis for his ballet.
The ballet was premiered at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux in France in 1789 under the title “The Ballet of Straw, or There is Only One Step from Bad to Good” (“Le ballet de la paille, ou Il n’est qu’un pas du mal au bien”).
As for the musical score, it initially consisted of 55 famous French airs. The surviving orchestral parts of the 1789 score do not list a composer/arranger, and no contemporary account of the original production mentions a composer. It is possible that Dauberval himself arranged the score, for he certainly devised the ballet’s scenario and was a competent violinist. If it was not his work, then it may have been one of the musicians employed by the theatre.
The name “La fille mal gardée” by which the ballet is known to this day, appeared two years later, in 1891, when the work was presented in London Royal Pantheon Theater (destroyed in 1937). Jean Dauberval also served as the choreographer for that production.
In the future, “La fille mal gardée” would be staged in many opera houses in different productions and with various musical scores. Various composers, including Ferdinand Hérold, Ludwig Minkus, Cesare Pugni, Leo Delibes, and Riccardo Drigo, have written music for the ballet and interludes. They often incorporated themes from popular songs or operas into their compositions.
One of such new versions is the ballet of 1828, created by choreographer Jean-Pierre Aumer (1774-1833), a student of Dauberval, especially for Paris Opera and its ballerina Pauline Montessu (1803-1877).
For this revival, the composer Ferdinand Hérold created an adaptation of the original score of 1789, which also contained themes from the operas of Jean-Paul-Égide Martini (1741-1816) and Gaetano Maria Donizetti (1797-1848).
Peter Ludwig Hertel (1817-1899), a German composer known for his dance and ballet music, created the iconic score for “La Fille mal gardée.” The production was choreographed by Paolo Taglioni (1808-1884) for the Königliches Opernhaus in Berlin (now the German State Opera) and premiered in 1864.
The premiere of this production in 1864 had a notable success, and this music is most often performed to this day.
The ballet “La Fille mal gardée” tells the story of a persistent peasant girl named Lise, who rebels against her mother Marcelina’s plans to marry her off to the son of the wealthy Thomas. After countless tricks, the girl marries Colas, the boy she loves. Through numerous tricks and schemes, Lise finally manages to marry Colas, the boy she loves. The ballet immerses the audience in the French countryside of the time, capturing the essence of routine, folk celebrations and traditions.
Over the decades, these characteristic elements of ballet were embodied in various sets, costumes, music and choreography in numerous productions. An essential component of the ballet has always been the comic situations between the mother and daughter and her suitors. The character of Marcelina, typically played by men, adds to the comedic effect.
Ballet has been influenced by the vaudeville genre, which translates to “voice of the city” in French. Vaudeville often centres around the daily lives of ordinary people, celebrating their work, emotions, and more. These same themes are present in “La Fille mal gardée”.
For Lviv National Opera, the ballet “La Fille mal gardée” has been one of the key performances of the repertoire since the mid-20th century. It was premiered at the theatre back in 1949, led by Yaroslav Voshchak as the conductor, with Mark Zeitlin as the choreographer and Fedir Nirod as the set designer. The production has been notable, running for over three decades at the theatre.
Another production of the ballet was presented by the theatre company in 1983. Conductor Ivan Yuziuk, choreographer Herman Isupov and set designer Tadei Ryndzak joined the production. Yevheniia Kostyliova, Anatolii Kucheruk and Oleh Pospielov played the leading roles in the premiere performances.
The 2023 at Lviv National Opera is the third production of this ballet. The author of the new choreography was the ballet master, People’s Artist of Ukraine Serhii Bondur, conductor Honoured Artist of Ukraine Yurii Bervetskyi, set designer People’s Artist of Ukraine Tadei Ryndzak, the costume designer Zhanna Maletska, the lighting designer Oleksandr Mezentsev.
The new production of “La Fille mal gardée” features Peter Hertel’s music and interludes composed by Adolf Adan and Ferdinand Herold.
We invite you to enjoy the stunning ambience of a French village, along with charming comedic moments and heartwarming love in the timeless ballet “La Fille mal gardée”. This beloved ballet performance has captured audiences’ hearts worldwide for over two centuries!
Natalia Mendiuk,
musicologist
