La Création du monde, Op. 81a, is a 15-minute-long ballet composed by Darius Milhaud in 1922–23 to a libretto by Blaise Cendrars, which outlines the creation of the world based on African folk mythology. The premiere took place on 25 October 1923 at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Background
It was in London in 1920 that Milhaud discovered jazz. On a trip to the United States in 1922, Darius Milhaud heard "authentic" jazz on the streets of Harlem, which left a great impact on his musical outlook. It was like nothing he had heard before. He wrote "against the beat of the drums, the melodic lines crisscrossed in a breathless pattern of broken and twisted rhythms."
When Milhaud first heard an American jazz band in London (1920), he was reportedly so captivated that he took off to New York City to spend time in clubs and bars, visit Harlem and mingle with jazz musicians. Milhaud also made a version for piano and string quartet (Op. 81b).
Notable recordings
- Darius Milhaud/orchestra of 19 soloists (Columbia (France), 1932)
- Leonard Bernstein/Victor Chamber Orchestra (RCA, 1945)
- Leonard Bernstein/Columbia Chamber Orchestra, including Benny Goodman (Columbia, 1951)
- Darius Milhaud/Orchestre de théâtre des Champs Elysées (Disques André Charlin, 1958)
- John Carewe/members of the London Symphony Orchestra (Everest, 1959)
- Charles Munch/Boston Symphony Orchestra (RCA, 1961)
- Georges Prêtre/The Paris Conservatoire Orchestra (EMI, 1961)
- Bernard Herrmann/London Festival Recording Ensemble (Decca, 1971)
- Arthur Weisberg/Contemporary Chamber Ensemble (Nonesuch, 1973)
- Leonard Bernstein/Orchestre National de France (EMI, 1976)
- Simon Rattle/London Sinfonietta (EMI, 1986)
- André Previn with string quartet (chamber version, RCA, 1993)
- Michael Tilson Thomas/New World Symphony (RCA, 1997)
- Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Branford Marsalis (Sony, 2000)
References
External links
- Video (22:17) – Darius Milhaud – La Création du monde (Ballet).
- Video (18:05) – Darius Milhaud – La Création du monde (Orchestra).