Lucien, l’autre Petipa

Lucien, the Other Petipa Lucien Petipa (1815-1898), Marius’s elder brother, was principal dancer first with the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, and then the Opéra de Paris. From 1839, he danced with illustrious ballerinas, notably the much-celebrated Carlotta Grisi, whom he partnered on a regular basis. His natural assets, physical presence and excellent elevation, together with his elegance and proficiency for mime soon won him the hearts of both the public and critics alike. He could not rival his brother’s talent for choreography, but still composed several ballets and sixteen interludes for operas. This paper retraces the artistic career of Lucien Petipa from the vantage point of primary sources conserved in the archives of the Library-Museum of the Paris Opera, with specific attention to Lucien Petipa’s ballet interludes, such as those he choreographed for Verdi’s Don Carlos.