Ballet
Song of the Earth
Song of the Earth is MacMillan reaching for something huge, set to Mahler's great song cycle Das Lied von der Erde. There's no real plot, just a meditation on life, loss, and the figure of Death woven through everything. It's widely considered one of his masterpieces, and that final movement is genuinely overwhelming.
Fast facts
- Composer
- Gustav Mahler
- Choreographer
- Kenneth MacMillan
- Premiere
- 1965, Stuttgart
- Structure
- One act
- Running time
- About 65 minutes
The story
A plotless, elegiac work set to Mahler's song cycle Das Lied von der Erde, sung live with the dancing. A central Man, a Woman, and a masked figure of Death move through six songs that range from drinking and youth to beauty, loneliness, and farewell. There's no story in the ordinary sense, but the three figures form a shifting triangle as Death shadows the lovers, building to a long, transcendent final leavetaking.
What Song of the Earth is famous for
- Set to Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde
- The recurring masked figure of Death
- Its profound, meditative final movement
- Being a MacMillan masterwork
Companies that perform Song of the Earth
Song of the Earth is in the repertoire of companies including The Royal Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Song of the Earth have a plot?
Not a conventional one. It's an abstract meditation on life and mortality, built around three central figures including Death, rather than a story with events.
What music is it set to?
Gustav Mahler's song cycle Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth), for two singers and orchestra, usually performed live with the dancing.
Why did MacMillan premiere it in Stuttgart?
The Royal Ballet initially declined the project, so John Cranko invited MacMillan to create it for Stuttgart Ballet in 1965. It was such a success that the Royal Ballet soon took it into their own repertoire.
Who composed Song of the Earth?
Song of the Earth was composed by Gustav Mahler.
How long is Song of the Earth?
Song of the Earth runs about 65 minutes.