Pulcinella

Pulcinella is inspired by commedia dell’arte, its impudence, burlesque situations and ludicrous characters. In order to play to the gallery, we disguise ourselves, brag and tease each other. Sometimes we die, but never too long because everyone is to be married in the end.

The creation of this ballet originated in a manuscript titled « I quattro Pulcinelli » that Serge Diaghilev had found in Napoli. That unpublished work presented several texts for comedies with Pulcinella, the famous Commedia dell’arte character, as the hero. Diaghilev asked Stravinsky to orchestrate the pages attributed to Pergolèse, and the ballet was presented in Paris on 15 may 1920, in a choreography by Léonide Massine and sets by Picasso.

The action takes place in Naples and tells the love stories of Pulcinella. Despite his love for Pimpinella, the protagonist cannot help but seduces the fairer sex, from Rosetta to Prudenza and even their mother Tartaglia. His infidelity will play tricks on him before all the characters kiss and marry each other in the end.

We can trace the etymology of Pulcinella, whose hump and belly gave him a poultry-like look, back to the latin « Pullus Gallinaceus », more commonly called : chicken. Such definition justifies endowing the hero with the features pertaining to a mischievious and libertine cock of the walk. It is a comedy stuffed with the Commedia dell’arte ingredients, an uncomplicated art whose essentially playful inspiration in the italian style I wished to retain. Nevertheless, its environment, action and characters have been stylised, then kept on a low flame to preserve all the flavor and sauciness of the original recipe.

Thierry Malandain