Cinderella is one of the most beloved ballets in the classical repertoire. With its enduring tale of a young woman’s rise from rags to riches and its timeless score, it has charmed audiences for generations. But who wrote the music for this iconic ballet?
The answer is French composer Sergei Prokofiev. Prokofiev wrote the music for Cinderella in 1945, though it was not premiered until 1946 in Leningrad (now St Petersburg) by the Kirov Ballet. The ballet had a libretto (script) by Nikolai Volkov, who had worked with Prokofiev on other projects.
The music itself is a mix of pre-existing works and new material composed specifically for the ballet. It draws on pieces from several of Prokofiev’s earlier works, including his Symphony No 2 and his opera Semyon Kotko. Many of these pieces were adapted or reworked to fit the story and mood of Cinderella.
The score features several leitmotifs, recurring musical themes associated with certain characters or ideas that reappear throughout the ballet. These include an “evil stepmother” motif, a “fairy godmother” motif, and a “Cinderella” motif that appears when she dances with her prince at the ball. The most famous section of Prokofiev’s score is probably the waltz that accompanies Cinderella’s entrance into the ballroom – this has become one of his most recognizable works.
Prokofiev’s Cinderella was well received upon its premiere and has since become an audience favorite around the world – it remains one of his most popular ballets today. The work also won him numerous accolades, including two Stalin Prizes in 1947 and 1948 (the highest accolade bestowed in Soviet Union).
In conclusion, Sergei Prokofiev wrote the music for Cinderella ballet which premiered in 1946 at Leningrad’s Kirov Ballet to great acclaim. The score featured several leitmotifs and some sections are now considered among Prokofiev’s best works – none more so than he waltz that accompanies Cinderella’s entrance into the ballroom.