- Beethoven’s ballet The Creatures of Prometheus was composed between 1800-01 and premiered in Vienna in 1801. Italian dancer and composer Salvatore Viganò (1769-1821) choreographed the ballet. The ballet’s subject is the Greek myth of Prometheus.
- The Creatures of Prometheus was the second of only two ballets that Beethoven wrote.1
- The Creatures of Prometheus was written for Empress Maria Theresa (not the famous one, but her granddaughter).2 The production was successful enough to have more than 20 performances.3
- Fun fact: The finale of The Creatures of Prometheus later became the source of the 4th movement theme in Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony.4
- Other than the finale, the only other moment from the ballet that is still performed regularly is the overture.5
Sources
- Douglas Johnson et al, “Beethoven, Ludwig van,” Grove Music Online (Oxford University Press, 2001), accessed July 22, 2019, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000040026.
- Anthony Burton, “Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheus,” liner notes to Ludwig van Beethoven: Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus op. 43, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Deutsche Grammophon 419-608-2, CD, 1987.
- Douglas Johnson et al., “Beethoven, Ludwig van,” Grove Music Online.
- David Wyn Jones, liner notes to Beethoven: Symphony no. 3, “Eroica,“ Prometheus-Overture, The London Classical Player, Roger Norrington, EMI 7 49101 2, CD, 1989.
- Orrin Howard, “Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43,” LA Phil, accessed October 15, 2026, https://www.laphil.com/works/overture-to-the-creatures-of-prometheus-op-43.
Cut IDs
17883, 19545, 19664, 20957, 21869, 40249, 26097, 41294, 10252