MARIA TAGLIONI

(1804-1884)

Ballerina. Since 1828 the leading soloist of the Paris Opera. In the years 1837-1842 performed in St. Petersburg. She has toured in many European cities. In the history of the theater came as a prominent romantic ballerina, was first used in the dance pointe shoes.

Hardly anyone else from ballet artists of the XIX century fell to such glory, such a consensus of worship, as Marie Taglioni. Her name echoed over the whole of Europe. Do the actors of that era in the strict sense of the homeland did not exist, they are inherently cosmopolitans, citizens of the "whole world" and roamed freely, overcoming boundaries and country. Family Taglioni was not a exception, since time immemorial her relatives were engaged with Terpsichore and faithfully served this muse. Filippo Taglioni actor's fate brought her to Stockholm, where he fell in love with the beautiful daughter of the famous Swedish singer Carsten and immediately married.

Ballet, in the form which we know it today, owes much to Filippo. That Taglioni reformed outdated techniques. Prior to his ballet for the most part consisted of a pantomime, Taglioni as the main means of expression made the dance. Filippo first offered a dance to unprecedented heights, and showed that the muse Terpsichore can easily cope with the challenges of this art: to make visible the subtlest movements of the soul, to convey the nuances of the most intimate feelings.

It so happened that the fame of his father drowned in the resounding success of his daughter, and could it be otherwise - Maria became visible and the perfect embodiment of the romantic ideal of his age, she still was an artist, the idol of the public, was always on the mind and the work of her father can understand only a few initiates.

Photo — «Maria Taglioni»

Shortly after his marriage to Filippo young wife went to Germany where he was born and their first daughter, Maria. Upbringing and education of future celebrities involved, seems to be a father. Probably, Filippo early discerned in his Chad "spark of God" and decided that we should not lose sight of this gift of fate. He watched over his daughter from any attack, but most of all cared about her reputation Filippo, because it understands that the artist in the eyes of the fans sometimes is mainly full integration with the manifests. Romantic, semi-mystical heroine ballerina demanded reputation spotless virgin, and my father diligently follow "purity" of this myth. Already in the first play Maria struck spectators with its unusual suit, which, incidentally, never subsequently changed. She wore a dress which covered his knees. Austrian prince once asked her why she does not wear short skirts. "Would you have allowed, - replied Mary - your wife or daughter to appear in this dress?"

The Prince was at a loss to answer. But what would a real man found? . .

Filippo personally undertook to teach her daughter the art of dance. In 1822 the Hope family, Mary, made her debut at the Vienna Opera ballet, composed specially for this case, the father, "Receiving the young nymphs to the court of Terpsichore. " Young talent, as seen, had the court fastidious muse. From the first steps artist was struck by even sophisticated viewers of its immediacy, virtuoso technique, extraordinary grace, and most importantly - innovation in choreography.

Photo — «Maria Taglioni»

According to legend, Mary, coming on the scene, the excitement had forgotten everything that she was laid to execute and, under the influence of momentary inspiration, began to improvise, so much so well, that just gave birth to the eyes of a new ballet. But all of these allegations from the theatrical legends - nothing more. In fact, Maria entire life was a brilliant performer of the brilliant ideas of his father. To contemporaries, their names are merged into one concept.

Once at the prestigious Parisian admission to Taglioni asked one senior, but the awkward guest said: "You should be proud of the fact that given the light of such talent; As for life, then it is your daughter is obliged to itself. "

Standing near her mother a dancer, offended that she did not notice, despite the attractive appearance, interrupted: "And me something, sir, think of nothing to create this masterpiece!"

Glory Taglioni spread throughout Europe so rapidly that even serious critics were not able to soberly assess the art of the famous ballerina. Unlike other great Mary almost did not have to shed tears over newspapers, lamenting the injustice of journalists. The general tone of statements about Taglioni was the most enthusiastic. Composers dedicate their works to the ballerina, one can see many drawings of the live Terpsichore, "Well, why, of course, tried more than all - dozens of madrigals, odes, verses composed in honor of Mary. The author, who chose the pseudonym M.

Photo — «Maria Taglioni»

Celestial, issued in 1838 a booklet of four-leaf with only one poem, called: "Taglioni - Grace. "

Like any glorification of this opus is much bigger than we brought him here, but the general public love is expressed in these lines quite clearly.

The name of the father and daughter Taglioni connected a famous story today, "Les Sylphides. " In November 1831 at the first performance of Opera Meyerbeer, "Robert the Devil" on the scene have met two of the brightest stars of the Paris Opera. Tenor Adolphe Nourrit played the role of Robert Knight, the leader of the party and the ghostly nun Marie Taglioni danced (ballet in those days often enlivened its static "big sister"). The opera, set Filippo Taglioni, had unprecedented success. But whatever engaged his father, he always "pretending" new repertoire for her daughter. Even before the premiere of the images of the third act, where Maria danced, inspired by Filippo plan "Les Sylphides. " A week before Mary began rehearsing the role of Abbess Helena Nourrit composed and brought her father, a scenario of the ballet. The famous tenor "retrained" in the librettist. Nourrit appealed to Scottish legends, taking the source of the script ten years ago, fantastic story of Charles Nodier "Trilbi or Argaylsky sorcerer. " The plot was subjected to arbitrary alteration Nodier. There, house Trilbi lured the fisherman's wife. Here, La Sylphide forced to quit the peasant bride and away in the woods.

Photo — «Maria Taglioni»

Change dictated by a desire to do his magic Nourrit partner conceived the center of the ballet. However, this change was attached championship dancers in the ballet at all.

Music of "Les Sylphides" wrote Jean Shneytsgoffer. He was listed as one of the choirmaster of the Opera, although he was already the author of four coming on there ballets. Rehearsals began immediately after the premiere of Robert-devil. " The role performed by the best actors of the troupe, but the director of the theater did not believe in the success of frankly revolutionary ballet and relied on the effects of scenic flights. In those days when flying was possible to observe only in the ballet, the audience willingly "buy" to such a spectacle. "La Sylphide" is promised to shake all the unseen tricks. Ballerinas were circling above the forest glades, and at the end of the group from the ground up, taking in the air his dead girlfriend. At the dress rehearsal is not all kleilos: Taglioni miraculously survived, getting on a flight to the fireplace. But at the premiere all went like clockwork. Triumphant success, of course, to not only picturesque scenery, but the novelty of a poetic concept, brilliantly embodied father and daughter Taglioni. In "La Sylphide" today's methods of classical dance - finger technique, jumps - the first time received a "legal residence". The fact that only recently seemed almost empty acrobatics and condemned as a frank critique of the grotesque, is now articulated in poetic essence of winged creatures, exempt from the law of gravity.

Photo — «Maria Taglioni»

Virtuoso complexity of this dance - sliding, running, fading on the fingers of one foot, was available in one Taglioni. Corps de ballet of her friends - Les Sylphides - only accompanied her. Yet La Sylphide soon flew over the world, winning ballet theaters in many countries.

Probably, and inexperienced in dancing the reader will guess that the famous "Giselle" was born under the direct influence of the firstborn of romantic ballet, Filippo Taglioni. Poetic script Theophile Gautier in common with the plot, "Les Sylphides" and composer Adam perfected principles symphonization music and dance steps that were approved in the choreography of Taglioni.

In September 1837 Maria came to Russia and stayed there for five seasons, winning a warm sympathy for not only notebooks balletomanes, but also the general public. Speeches Taglioni heralded the beginning of new practices in the audience: when it first began to bring flowers actress, she first began to applaud the ladies, who until then considered it improper, and innovation are multiple challenges of the performer. "Marie Taglioni can not be called a dancer: a painter, a poet, in the broadest sense of the word. Taglioni's appearance on our stage has brought tremendous benefit to our entire ballet, and especially to our young dancers," - wrote one critic.

Society, of course, seething, discussing not only the famous ballerina pirouettes, but trying on hats, toilets "by Taglioni.

Photo — «Maria Taglioni»

" Mary is a recognized trendsetter in Europe. It came and to the ridiculous - the rich girls coyly sucking "caramel Taglioni. " Her name has become a thriving brand, and with the help of a manager and the "image maker" of Mary - her father - still stubbornly propagated the myth of the dancer, as an ethereal creation.

With the sweetly smiling townsfolk passed each other rumor as if it was born "style Taglioni. " Supposedly once a star appeared in a box big Paris Opera in a very strange hat on his head. Milliner was in despair: "I turned down the field to your hats - she sobbed on the next day - so that it does not get crushed in a piece of cardboard, and you do so and put on!" "I thought it was the new fashion," - replied actress.

They say if the next day all the Parisian ladies sported a hat with folded margins.

The real reason for the triumph of Marie Taglioni was that Romanticism was a real lifestyle of her contemporaries, she is "disembodied" his character. Maria has made of the dance "almost ethereal art" and has managed to embody the ideal of feminine elegance of that era. In honor of Taglioni called hats and light clothes, gas and air toilet, which Taglioni wore on stage and in life, became a favorite costume Parisian fashionistas. In imitation of the ladies tried to decorate her dress flounces set to make the toilet more than air.

But naivety star has not stopped her pretty well settle in Russia.

Photo — «Maria Taglioni»

From marriage with the Count Voazenom dancer had a daughter and son. However, soon the graph squandered not only its own state, but also picked up part of the wealth of Mary. In 1835, Taglioni was forced to divorce her husband. But in the northern capital, she found a quite a decent game for daughters - the offspring of Princes Trubetskoy. So the benefit of visiting the north of the capital was not only a Russian ballet school, but shaky financial welfare metressy.

Petersburg society literally infected with dancing. Cream of the aristocracy tried to take lessons from a famous ballerina. German newspapers of those years, not without irony reported that Taglioni, during his stay in St. Petersburg, wrote music Gavotte, which was performed 120-th girls in pink dresses. According to those same newspapers, notes of the gavotte survived in St. Petersburg for 3 months, 22 editions (!).

Emperor Nicholas himself, a great lover of ballet and fragile balerinok, came to the delight of dance Taglioni and often came after the show backstage. These visits to St. Petersburg the light used to, but what shocked the local gossips - Empress Maria awarded a personal greeting. Nicholas could not hide his amazement: "That she did not make for one artist. "

You know, that cried in response Taglioni? You would not guess. She, too, admired, quite frankly hoping to flatter: "What a charming Empress leg. "

Only actress who could perhaps forgive such a blatant frivolity .

. .

In 1842, after a touching farewell Taglioni left hospitable country ever won the hearts of the grateful Russian people. But five years later she finished performing on stage and moved into his palazzo on Lake Como. The second half of her life was less brilliant than the first. And considering the enormous popularity of its past glory and spoiled, you can imagine how hard Mary was transferred into oblivion. During the War of 1870, she received a message that killed her son. Torn by grief a mother soon learned, however, that, fortunately, he was only wounded, but a false report was only the beginning of new troubles. In 1871, he died Filippo Taglioni, with him went to Mary and all her life, her genius, she lost her footing in this world. His long life the great ballerina ended in abject poverty, earning the existence of dance lessons, and she died on her birthday - April 23.