Cesare Pugni

Cesare Pugni ( born May 31, 1802 in Genoa, .. † 14 Januarjul / January 26 1870greg in Saint Petersburg ) was an Italian composer. He wrote throughout his career more than 300 ballets for the most famous choreographers of his time, including Jules Perrot, Paul Taglioni, Arthur Saint- Léon and Marius Petipa.

Pugni studied composition and violin at the Milan Conservatory. His first ballet he wrote in 1823 for the Milan Scala. In 1834 he moved to France, where he met Jules Perrot. From then on they worked together, first at the Paris Opera, later when Her Majesty's Theatre in London and at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg.

1851 Pugni became the official ballet composers of the Mariinsky Theatre.

Works (selection)

• For the Milan Scala 1829: Adélaïde de France (Louis Henry)
• 1827: Pellea e Mileto ( Salvatore Taglioni )
• 1830: Macbeth ( Henry Louis )
• 1836: Elerz e Zulmida ( Henry Louis )

• For Her Majesty's Theatre, London 1844: La Esmeralda ( Jules Perrot )
• 1844: La Vivandière ( Arthur Saint- Léon )
• 1845: Pas de Quatre ( Jules Perrot )
• 1846: Catarina ou la Fille du bandit ( Jules Perrot )
• 1847: Coralia (Paul Taglioni )
• 1849: Les Plaisirs de l' hiver ou les Patineurs (Paul Taglioni )
• 1849: Le Violon du diable ( Arthur Saint- Léon )

• For the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg 1855: L' Étoile de Grenade ( Marius Petipa)
• 1862: La Fille du Pharaon ( Marius Petipa)
• 1864: The Little Humpbacked Horse ( Arthur Saint- Léon )
• 1864: Le Corsaire ( Petipa after Joseph Mazilier )
• 1868: Le Roi Candaule ( Marius Petipa)