Revolutionary Songs in “The Flames of Paris“

Boris Asafiev, the composer of the ballet “The Flames of Paris“ (chor. V. Vainonen), said that he composed a “musical and historical novel“ using a large musical material of the epoch. He quoted in the ballet such famous composers as Lully, Maurin, Gossec, Gluck and others. This clip represents how songs of the French Revolution were used in the ballet. Besides of La Marseillaise, La Carmagnole and Ça ira, the Blondel air from the “Richard the Lion Heart“ by Gretry is presented which served as a kind of a