Research Background:

This research is on Conducting Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus Ballet: An Autoethnographic Study in Performance Practice. The central research question is: what specialised artistic skills and artistic relationships are required to successfully conduct The Creatures of Prometheus ballet? The intention is to build a greater awareness of the role of a ballet conductor, thereby developing a firm grasp on the full capabilities, requirements and duties that a ballet conductor has to perform on a regular basis. These involve collaboration with choreographers, analysis of the score, rehearsing with dancers and the ability to conduct an orchestra. By utilising this ballet as my primary focus, it will help inform what specialised skills were applied and could be used on other ballets.

Research Contribution:

By presenting this Australian Premiere it has contribute to the cultural landscape of works performed by emerging Australian artists, creators and performers. This performance may also go a long way to recognising the significance of Beethoven’s rare ballet and reintroduce this work to the existing canon of ballet repertoire.

Research Significance:

This 220 year-old ballet was premiered in Brisbane, Australia 2021 and witnessed by over 1000 audience members and reviewed by two major arts critics. To date there has been no significant attempt to recreate a stylistically and historically appropriate retelling of the original story since its first premiere in 1801. Finally, using this model of research will highlight challenges and strategies that future ballet conductor’s could employ in their own development for other ballet productions.