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Show THE COMPOSITION OF BALLETS. 199 their productions flat, monotonous and wearisome. The characters of theirpieces are ever Venus, Cupid, Flora, Zephyr, the Graces, sports, and pleasures; and with these the audience are doomed to be treated ad nauseam. Though only a Divertissement, Olympus and its inhabitants are still crowded in. Were this style but altered, agreeable novelties might succeed, and public attention would be drawn and amused. The ancient and modern history of every country and people, the accounts of celebrated men of every age, the relations of travellers, and the writings of great authors, present an infinite number of fine subjects, perfectly fitted to be represented as Ballets ; to such, artists should direct their abilities and attention; while, by clothing these in a dramatic garb, their own names would become distin-' guished. A selection of these events, exploits, and deeds of renown " argomento grande Porge a i piu dotti ingegni ." PINDAR. It has often been wished that persons of talent would apply themselves to composing on those subjects, hitherto totally neglected at French theatres ; and that enlightened composers would prefer history to mythology, selecting, with taste, such parts as may be appropriated to dancing, and which are susceptible of beautiful scenery. I a m of opinion that subjects of this class, worked up with talent and art, would be certain of success. By thus varying the amusement of the public, the Ballet would gain in the end, and become more popular. Sometimes a fable, an anecdote, a romance, or a poem, may suggest the plot of a Ballet. A hint of this sort is often sufficient for the m an of genius; he seizes, illustrates, augments, and embellishes it; and theatrical mechanism brings the whole to perfection. 13* |
