Le Lion amoureux

The ballet Le Lion amoureux was performed for the first time by Colonel de Basil’s Russian Ballet'-Company at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on October 6th, 1937. The story, suggested by a fable by Lafontaine, is of a lion, which with great roars, enters the court, where the queen is having her portrait painted, and throws the court into confusion. The lion fells in love with the queen. She woos the lion, which is easily trapped and tamed. Thereupon the assembled company stress the moral:

“Love, love, when you invade our hearts,
That moment common sense departs.”

The music shows two elements. It is partly stylised, (ancienne, epoque) and partly modernistic, in order to achieve the necessary contrast. But it is never quite serious and pokes sly fun, which a suggestion of Lafontaine inspires.

The movements:
1. Sarabande (the queen poses for the painter).
2. The lion’s dance (the lion appears and confronts the frightened court).
3. The queen and the lion (taming of the lion by the queen).
4. Dance of the flower girl (a court episode).
5. Pinale (The queen and the lion-conqueror and victim– the company joins in a final dance).