Glière: The Red Poppy, Op.70

Introduction

The Red Poppy (Russian: Красный мак) or sometimes The Red Flower (Russian: Красный цветок) is a ballet in three acts and eight tableaus with an apotheosis, with a score written by Reinhold Glière and libretto by Mikhail Kurilko. This ballet was created in 1927 as the first Soviet ballet with a modern revolutionary theme. Possibly the most famous dance from this ballet is the Sailors Dance, sometimes referred to as the "Russian Sailors Dance" (although it is described as "Dance of the Sailors from the Soviet Ship" in the score and libretto). It is this musical selection for which Glière is perhaps best known.

Synopsis

The ballet takes place at a seaport in 1920s-era Kuomintang China. Ships carrying sailors from many lands, including the Soviet Union, are docked in a Chinese seaport. The Captain of the Soviet Ship notices a group of half-starved, overworked coolies being brutally driven to work even harder by their cruel harbormaster.

One night while dancing for the sailors aboard the ship, the beautiful Taï-Choa (Pinyin: Taohua) notices the Soviet Captain trying to rescue the poor Coolies from the Harbormaster. Impressed by the captain's act of kindness she gives him a red poppy as a symbol of her love.

When Taï-Choa's fiance, the adventurer Li-Chan-Fou learns of this, he is jealous and orders her to kill the captain. She refuses, and is later killed when a riot breaks out on the dock — thus sacrificing her life for the captain. As she dies, she gives another red poppy flower to a young Chinese girl as a sign of love and freedom.

Structure

Act One

• First Tableau
• No. 1 Introduction
• No. 2 Unloading the Soviet Ship (Work of the Coolies)
• No. 3 Restaurant Scene
• No. 4 Dance of the Malaysian Women
• Scene and Exit of the Malaysian Women
• No. 5 Taï-Choa's Entrance
• No. 6 Fan Dance
• No. 7 Scene After Fan Dance
• No. 8 Dance in the Restaurant
• No. 9 Entrance of the Adventurer
• No. 10 Coolie's Work
• No. 11 Commotion in the Crowd. Arrival of the Captain of the Soviet Ship
• No. 12 Work of the Soviet Sailors
• No. 13 Scene of Taï-Choa with the Captain and the Adventurer
• No. 14 Dance of the Golden Thimbles
• No. 15 Exit of Taï-Choa
• No. 16 Victory Dance of the Coolies
• No. 17 Dance of Sailors from Different Nations
• No. 18 Dance of the Sailors from the Soviet Ship — Russian Song: Yablochko ("Little Apple")

Act Two

• Second Tableau
• No. 19 Introduction
• No. 20 Scene in the Opium Den
• No. 21 Dance of the Chinese Women
• No. 22 Exit of the Chinese Women
• No. 23 Conspiracy Scene
• No. 24 Taï-Choa's Anguish
• No. 25 Taï-Choa Smokes Opium
• Third Tableau
• No. 26 Taï-Choa's Dream and Visions
• No. 27 Adagio (Four Goddesses)
• No. 28 a) Cortege b) Sword Dance
• Fourth Tableau
• No. 29 Phoenix
• No. 30 Adagio of the Phoenix
• Fifth Tableau
• No. 31 Butterfly and Lotus Dance
• No. 32 Grand Adagio in E Major
• No. 33 Poppy Dance
• No. 34 Phoenix Variation
• No. 35 Taï-Choa's Variation (Xylophone Solo)
• No. 36 Dance of the Chinese Saltimbanque
• No. 37 Coda
• No. 38 The Red Barque

Act Three

• Sixth Tableau
• No. 39 Introduction
• No. 40 Charleston
• No. 41 Scene Before the Dance on the Dish
• No. 42 Dance on the Dish
• No. 43 Scene After the Dance on the Dish
• No. 44 Entrance of the Herald and the Saltimbanque. Mounting of the Chinese Theater.
• No. 45 Herald's Announcement
• No. 46 Demon's Dance
• No. 47 Herald's Announcement
• No. 48 Dance with Scarves
• No. 49 Herald's Announcement
• No. 50 Umbrella Dance
• No. 51 Herald's Announcement
• No. 52 Ribbon Dance
• No. 53 Dismounting of the Chinese Theater
• No. 54 Boston Waltz
• Seventh Tableau
• No. 55 Conspiracy Scene
• No. 56 Taï-Choa's Scene with the Captain
• Eighth Tableau
• No. 57 Boston Waltz (Reprise)
• No. 58 Chinese Tea
• No. 59 Chinese Dance with the Cups
• No. 60 Dance with the Goblet
• No. 61 Scene of Alarm
• No. 62 Ship's Departure
• No. 63 Passing of the Armed Coolies
• No. 64 Riot Scene
• No. 65 Taï-Choa's Death

Apotheosis

• No. 66 - Apotheosis

Dances Added for the 1929 Leningrad Production

• Variation in A Major
• Variation in B Major
• Variation of the Four Soloists
• Variation in G Major
• Eccentric Dance
• Chinese Generals (Children's Dance)
• Dance of the Little Drum
• Girls — American Dance
• Boston Waltz (Revised)