Revolutionary Songs in "The Flames of Paris"

Boris Asafiev, the composer of the ballet "The Flames of Paris" (chor. V. Vainonen), said that he composed a "musical and historical novel" using a large musical material of the epoch. He quoted in the ballet such famous composers as Lully, Maurin, Gossec, Gluck and others. This clip represents how songs of the French Revolution were used in the ballet. Besides of La Marseillaise, La Carmagnole and Ça ira, the Blondel air from the "Richard the Lion Heart" by Gretry is presented which served as a kind of a royalists' anthem at that time:
O Richard! O my king!
The Universe abandons you!
On earth, it is only me
Who is interested in you!
Alone in the universe
I would break the chains
when everyone else deserted you!

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Ballet
• flames
• asafiev
• vainonen
• marseillaise
• carmagnole
• ira
• french
• revolution

[hommechauvesouris]

Vive la Révolution!

[tipitjo]

Vive la Révolution ! Vive La République !

[hardk00rable]

and the melody is of "Marseillaise".

[craisin1]

The commentary and singing is indeed in Russian. Must be from a russian film.

[FranciscoCojuanco]

It's Russian.

[threecards333]

Je ne pense pas qu'ils chantent en francais. i don't think that they are sing in french, I could be wrong...

[CHCANY]

Vive Marie Antoinette! she is there as beautifull as day!! Oh,Richard Oh mon Roi!!! Vive le ROI!!!