La Péri

La Péri is a one-act ballet composed by Paul Dukas, known for his famous work L’Apprenti sorcier, which features prominently in Disney’s Fantasia. The ballet is about Alexander the Great’s quest for immortality and his encounter with a peri, a beautiful supernatural entity from Persian mythology. As the piece begins with a calm ambiance, the composer decided to write a fanfare to precede it, signalling to the typically noisy audience members that it was time to take their seats. The elegant and original fanfare is often performed separately.