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!
- [Orchestra] Introducing famous and popular pieces
- Masterpieces of Ballet Music: Introducing Classic Favorites
- Masterpieces of the bolero. Recommended popular pieces in bolero form and outstanding performances.
- [Violin] A curated selection of beloved classic masterpieces and popular pieces that continue to be cherished across eras
- [Masterpiece Classics] A special showcase of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears
- Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- [Tchaikovsky] Pick up famous and representative pieces!
- Timelessly beautiful classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- Popular classical piano pieces. A collection of masterful performances by Japanese pianists.
- Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Works You Should Hear at Least Once
- Classic masterpieces recommended for women
- Disney classics to enjoy in a classical arrangement: recommended popular songs
- Sweet, gentle tones and resonance: A selection of enchanting classical guitar masterpieces
Masterpieces of Ballet Music: Introducing Classic Standards (1–10)
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.
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.
SpartacusAram Khachaturian
Aram Khachaturian, a musician from Georgia in the Russian Empire.
Unusually for a serious classical musician, he was also actively involved in film scores, and from the 1930s to the 1960s he appears to have had considerable media exposure.
Today, however, Aram Khachaturian is best known as a composer of ballet music, having produced numerous masterpieces such as Gayane and Spartacus.
Spartacus is especially recommended among his works, beautifully conveying the sorrowful atmosphere of a story about slaves.
Masterpieces of Ballet Music: Introducing Classic Standards (11–20)
Dance of the HoursAmilcare Ponchielli
Amilcare Ponchielli is one of Italy’s foremost composers.
He wrote many operas, and one of them, Dance of the Hours, gained popularity when it was used as background music in a Disney film in 1940, and later appeared in comic ballet as well.
Comic ballet is a derivative genre of ballet—put simply, it’s ballet with strong musical-theater elements.
The music itself is wonderful, but be sure to check out the comic ballet, too.
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.
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.
The Dying SwanCamille Saint-Saëns
The masterpiece The Carnival of the Animals, composed by Camille Saint-Saëns.
The Dying Swan is a world-renowned piece choreographed by Mikhail Fokine to the movement The Swan from The Carnival of the Animals for the great ballerina Anna Pavlova.
As a short work of about four minutes, it places a strong emphasis on the ballerina’s expressive abilities.
It is a wonderful piece of ballet music on its own, but I believe you will enjoy it even more when seen together with the dance.