Harlequinade (Les Millions d'Arlequin)
Anna Pavlova as the character Columbine and the danseur Mikhail Fokine as the character Harlequin 1902.
QUICK F A C T S
- ✦ Harlequinade premiered in 1900 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.
✦ The ballet was choreographed by Marius Petipa with music by Riccardo Drigo.
✦ Its original Russian title was Les Millions d'Arlequin (The Harlequin's Millions).
✦ The story is based on the characters of the Italian Commedia dell'arte tradition, including Harlequin, Columbine, and Pierrot.
✦ The ballet's famous Serenade and Pas de Deux remain popular in competitions, galas, and performances around the world.
Lyubov Egorova and Julia Sedova in the ballet Harlequinade, 1902.
S U M M A R Y
Harlequinade is a cheerful comic ballet inspired by the colorful characters of the Italian Commedia dell'arte tradition. The story follows Harlequin and Columbine, two young lovers who must outwit obstacles placed in their path before they can be together. Filled with disguises, misunderstandings, and playful humor, the ballet celebrates romance, wit, and theatrical fun rather than tragedy or conflict.
Harlequin and Columbine, the classic Commedia dell'arte characters whose romance forms the heart of Harlequinade, Tivoli Gardens, Denmark. Photo Malene Thyssen, commons.
Painted around 1885–1890, Edgar Degas's depiction of a ballerina as Harlequin reflects the enduring influence of Commedia dell'arte on the world of ballet before the premiere of Harlequinade in 1900.
The ballet premiered in 1900 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg under its original title, Les Millions d'Arlequin (The Harlequin's Millions). Choreographed by Marius Petipa with music by Riccardo Drigo, it was one of the great theatrical spectacles of Petipa's final years. Although the complete original production eventually disappeared from the repertory, parts of the ballet survived through later revivals and reconstructions.
Today, Harlequinade is remembered not only for its charming story but also for Drigo's famous Serenade. This music became one of the most beloved excerpts in classical ballet and is performed around the world in competitions, gala concerts, and pas de deux showcases. As a result, millions of ballet fans have encountered part of Harlequinade even if they have never seen the full ballet itself.
Photograph of the ballerina Olga Preobrajenskaya and the danseur Anatole Oboukhoff in the ballet "Les Millions d'Arlequin, ca. 1910.
E N C O R E
✦ On Today's Stage
Full productions of Harlequinade are relatively rare, but the ballet continues to appear through reconstructions and special revivals. Its most famous excerpt, the Harlequinade Pas de Deux, remains a favorite at competitions, gala performances, and ballet showcases around the world.
✦ Iconic Interpreters
Marius Petipa created the ballet, while generations of dancers have kept its celebrated Pas de Deux alive. Modern revivals by companies such as American Ballet Theatre have helped introduce Harlequinade to new audiences.
✦ Legacy
Though the complete ballet nearly vanished from the stage, its music and dancing survived through the beloved Serenade and Pas de Deux. Today, Harlequinade stands as a link between the theatrical world of Commedia dell'arte and the classical ballet tradition of the Imperial Russian stage.