Masterpieces of Ballet Music: Introducing Classic Favorites
Even when they hear “ballet music,” many people who haven’t experienced ballet may find it hard to picture what the pieces sound like.
So this time, we’ve selected a collection of famous ballet music for those very people.
From classic masterpieces everyone knows to relatively recent works, we’ve curated a wide range.
Because many of the pieces will sound familiar, we think even those not well-versed in classical music or ballet can enjoy them.
Now, please take your time and immerse yourself in the beautiful world of ballet music!
Masterpieces of Ballet Music: Introducing Classic Standards (1–10)
The Rite of SpringIgor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky’s masterpiece The Rite of Spring—known in Japan under the title “Haru no Saiten”—is one of the most highly acclaimed works of 20th-century modern music and is also renowned as a landmark of ballet music.
Though a staple of the ballet repertoire, the piece itself is strikingly unconventional, featuring frequent use of polyphony and dissonance.
It is highly recommended for those who want to explore contemporary ballet music.
TannhäuserRichard Wagner
Richard Wagner was one of the most active and influential musicians in 19th-century Germany.
A composer renowned for his Romantic operas, he was also known as the “King of Music Drama.” One of Wagner’s best-known works as ballet music is Tannhäuser.
In Japan, it is known under the title “Tanhoiser,” and it has become a beloved standard in today’s ballet repertoire.
Although the piece is widely appreciated now, it was reportedly received very poorly at the time of its premiere.
Over time, however, it gradually attained its current standard status through revisions to the choreography.
The Sleeping BeautyPyotr Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Tchaikovsky, most famous as a renowned composer of ballet music, is widely known in Japan as well, since he appears in school music textbooks.
He produced a number of ballet scores, many of which have remained beloved as standard repertoire to this day.
Among his works, one of the most famous is The Sleeping Beauty.
Known in Japan by the title “Nemureru Mori no Bijo,” it is counted—along with Swan Lake and The Nutcracker—among the three great classical ballets.
Swan LakePyotr Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece, Swan Lake.
In Japan, it’s known by the title “Hakuchō no Mizūmi” (Swan Lake).
It’s probably the most famous ballet music in the world, isn’t it? This was Tchaikovsky’s first ballet score, and it premiered in 1877.
In fact, the work wasn’t highly regarded in the ballet world at the time, but later, through major revisions by choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, it became a production that attracted worldwide attention.
FaustCharles Gounod
Charles Gounod, a great composer who even provided the national anthem for Vatican City.
A French-born musician known as the “father of modern French art song,” he was one of the figures who had a major impact on the French music world.
When it comes to Charles Gounod’s ballet music, many people may picture Faust.
Because it is sung in German, it is the most beloved as ballet music in Germany; however, as an opera it is sung in French, making it most popular in France.
The Red ShoesBrian Easdale
The film known in Japan as “Akai Kutsu,” The Red Shoes, is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale published in the 1940s.
Its music is also highly memorable: Brian Easdale’s composition achieves an authentic sound that rivals the finest works of the classical canon.
If you’re interested, a remastered edition has been released, so be sure to check out the film as well.
BoleroMaurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel, a French composer who had a profound impact on the music world with his original structures.
He achieved success with works in various forms, and he also left masterpieces in the realm of ballet music.
Among them, one of his most famous works is Boléro.
In Japan it is known by the same title, “Bolero,” and it continues to be popular today as a standalone musical piece that transcends the framework of ballet.
The work features a highly distinctive structure in which two melodies are repeated, and by focusing on that aspect as you listen, you can appreciate the high level of craftsmanship in the piece.
Romeo and JulietSergei Prokofiev
A masterpiece composed by Sergei Prokofiev, often hailed as the greatest musician of the 20th century, Romeo and Juliet is known in Japan by its original title, Romio to Jurietto.
It is probably the most famous ballet score after Swan Lake.
Though there are many choreographies, the most renowned is Leonid Lavrovsky’s 1940 version, which has won numerous music awards.
SylviaLéo Delibes
Léo Delibes, a French composer known as a leading figure of the Romantic era, was active from the 1850s to the 1870s and, alongside composers like Pyotr Tchaikovsky, produced masterpieces of ballet music.
Among Delibes’s works, the ballet Sylvia is particularly famous; in Japan it is known by the title “Shiruvia.” Although its premiere received little attention, after Frederick Ashton revised the choreography it became cherished as a standard of ballet repertoire.
GiselleAdolphe Adam
Adolphe Adam was a French composer, famous for his remarkable speed at writing music; by the young age of 28, he had already produced 28 works for the stage.
Among his compositions, the most famous is Giselle, known in Japan under the same title.
This work is a cornerstone of French ballet music and is internationally recognized as a quintessential example of the Romantic ballet.
It is also a standard in Japanese ballet, so if you’re planning to see a performance, be sure to check this piece out.