Episode 90 – Spartacus, the Ballet

We'returning 90 and it's time for a special episode on the reception ofSpartacus! What better way to do this than to examine the history ofSpartacus, the ballet. Dr Rad is our expert on the ground on allthings Spartacus and reception. Dr G brings a wild curiosity and asmall knowledge of ballet.So howdoes a famous freedom fighter like Spartacus end up with his ownballet? We consider the major notes of Spartacus' story that havecome down to us from the ancient material as the first step intracing his reception.The Reception of Spartacus Beyond AmericaTheballet takes us on a journey beyond the reception of Spartacus inAmerica. Kubrick's seminal 1960 filmis based on Howard Fast's 1951 novel – a Hollywood production basedon an American novel sets the scene for a very particular receptionof Spartacus. But the ballet couldn't be more different. The originsof the ballet come from Stalinist Russia.A Little ContextThecommunist and socialist connections to Spartacus resonate with ideassuch as seeking community amongst the oppressed and fighting forfreedom from authoritarian or monarchical rule. Marx, Lenin, and thepolitical movements in Europe in the early twentieth century,position Spartacus as a much relied upon symbol for the freedomspeople sought from current leaders.TheSpartakusbund was a Marxist movementduring the first World War, although its legacy falls foul of Lenin.While the Spartakiade was the name given to the Soviet Union'sversion of the Olympics. Dr Rad explores the dangers of themisinterpreting Spartacus' story in Stalinist Russia and this leadsus squarely to the ballet.Let's Get Our Dancing Shoes OnSpartacus(«Спартак», Spartak),the 1954 ballet is the creation of Aram Khachaturian. He was born inGeorgia, studied at the Conservatorium in Moscow, and went on tocomposer a variety of film scores. In 1948, Khachaturian foundhimself on the wrong side of the regime with his music described as“decadent” and “bourgeois”. Spartacus plays arole in Khachaturian's rehabilitation.Join us as we explore all the details including the recent production by the Australian Ballet that Dr Rad had the great fortune to see!Episode 90 – Spartacus, the BalletSpartacus at the Bolshoi in Moscow, October 2013. Image credit: Bengt Nyman via Wikimedia CommonsFor our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/Support the showPatreonKo-FiRead our booksRex: The Seven Kings of RomeYour Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.