This short ballet began life as "Les Aventures de Mercure" to a scenario by Comte Étienne de Beaumont, who commissioned it for his ballet series "Soirées de Paris" at the Théâtre de la Cigale in Montmartre. The third tableau of this mythological fantasy, with "poses plastiques" by Picasso, was set at the foot of Mount Etna (Italy), and no 13 was described as musical "cubisme" by Satie.
Ballet score for orchestra commissioned by Comte Etienne de Beaumont for his Soirées de Paris.
Premiered on 15 June 1924 at Théâtre de la Cigale, Montmartre (Paris). Sets and costumes by Picasso, choreography by Léonide Massine (who danced the role of Mercure). The orchestra was conducted by Roger Désormière.
(I had to re-upload another version of Mercure for orchestra because the previous version is blocked for France, Belgium and few other countries.)
orchestra: Orchestre Symphonique Et Lyrique De Nancy, directed by Jérôme Kaltenbach
0:00 Marche-Ouverture
1:10 La Nuit
2:20 Danse de Tendresse (Apollon et Vénus)
4:28 Signes du Zodiaque
5:16 Entrée de Mercure
6:29 Danse des Grâces
7:39 Bain des Grâces
9:06 Fuite de Mercure
9:24 Colère de Cerbère
9:49 Polka des Lettres
10:23 Nouvelle Danse
12:05 Le Chaos
12:39 Rapt de Proserpine
