La revue de cuisine
La revue de cuisine (H 161, Czech: Kuchyňská revue) is a ballet in one act by Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů. It was created for sextet: clarinet (B♭), bassoon, trumpet, violin, cello and piano, composed in 1927. It was premiered in November 1927 in Prague. The suite drawn from the ballet was premiered in January 1930, in Paris.
Work[edit]
In response to a commission by Božena Neběská and to a scenario by Jarmila Kröschlová, Martinů wrote a witty curtain-raiser called Pokušení svatoušká hrnec (Temptation of the Saintly Pot) and with it scored his first popular success under the revised title La Revue de cuisine. Here the dancers play a variety of cooking utensils which swagger their way through a naïve episode of kitchen life. The marriage of Pot and Lid is in danger of being broken up by the suave Twirling Stick. Pot succumbs to his flattery. Dishcloth makes eyes at Lid but is challenged to a duel by Broom. Pot, however, tires of Twirling Stick and longs for Lid's caresses, but Lid cannot be found anywhere. Suddenly an enormous foot appears from the wings and kicks him back on stage. Pot and Lid kiss and make up and, flirting once again, Twirling Stick goes off with Dishcloth.[1]