Riccardo Drigo

Riccardo Drigo ( born June 20, 1846 in Padua, † October 1, 1930 ) was an Italian conductor and composer ballet.

He studied with Jorich and Bresciani in Padua and Antonio Buzzolla at the Conservatory in Venice. He taught piano and received in his hometown some success as a composer and conductor. In 1878 he went to Russia, where he lived for more than 40 years. In 1879 he was appointed conductor of the Italian opera in Saint Petersburg. In 1886 he gave this point in favor of the more important position of conductor and composer of the Imperial Ballet. He has worked with most of the leading dancers and choreographers of Russia ( Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov ), and conducted the first performances of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. In 1899 he composed the music for the famous pas de deux from Act II of Le Corsaire, a choreography by Marius Petipa (St. Petersburg, 1899). His own ballets were also very popular. The ballet The millions of Harlequin, first performed in 1900, enjoyed an international reputation. During his voluntary exile Drigo occasionally visited Italy yet. In 1920 he returned to Padua, because he no longer displeased Russia after the October Revolution.

Ballets

• Les Millions d' Arlequin
• La Flute magique
• Le reveil de Flore
• Le Talsiman