The score for Marius Petipa's Les Saisons was originally intended to have been composed by the Italian composer and conductor Riccardo Drigo, who was Glazunov's colleague and close friend. Since 1886, Drigo held the posts of director of music and chef d’orchestre to the Ballet of the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatres, while also serving as conductor for performances of the Italian operas in the repertory of the Imperial Opera. Petipa's Les Millions d’Arlequin was also in its preliminary stages at the same time as Les Saisons, and was originally intended to have had a score supplied by Glazunov. Since Drigo and Glazunov had an affinity towards each other's assigned ballet, the two composers agreed that Glazunov would compose Les Saisons and that Drigo would compose Les Millions d’Arlequin. Petipa's Les Millions d'Arlequin was presented for the first time at the Imperial Theatre of the Hermitage on. Les Saisons premiered three days later. For both performances the whole of the Imperial court was in attendance. In 1907, Nikolai Legat staged a revival of Les Saisons at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre. This production was performed on occasion by the Imperial Ballet after the Russian Revolution, being performed for the last time in 1927. Les Saisons lived on in an abridged edition in the repertory of Anna Pavlova's touring company.
Tableau 1 — A winter landscape Winter is surrounded by his companions: Hoar-frost, Ice, Hail and Snow, who amuse themselves with a band of snowflakes. Two gnomes enter, and soon light a fire that causes all assembled to vanish. Tableau 2 — A landscape covered with flowers Spring dances with Zephyr, flower fairies, and enchanted birds. Upon feeling the heat of the sun, the assembly takes flight. Tableau 3 — A landscape of flowing fields of wheat Cornflowers and poppies revel in the light and warmth of the sun. They take rest after their exertion. Now naiads appear, who bring water to refresh the growth, and the Spirit of Corn dances in thanksgiving. Satyrs and fauns enter playing their pipes, and attempt to carry off the Spirit of the Corn, but she is rescued by the wind of Zephyr. Tableau 4 — A landscape in Autumn The Seasons take part in a glorious dance while leaves from autumn trees rain upon their merriment. Apotheosis — The Sable sky Constellations of stars sparkle above the earth.
Résumé of dances and the mise-en-scène
List of the numbers comprising The Seasons taken from the Yearbook of the Imperial Theatres, 1899-1900, being the original titles of the dances and mise en scène as originally staged.
Part of the Adagio from Autumn was chosen by Guy Mauffette as the musical theme for the long-running Radio-Canada soap opera Un homme et son péché and its later adaptation for television, Les Belles Histoires des pays d'en haut.
The Autumn Bacchanale is used as the introductory music to BBC TV's annual Richard Dimbleby Lectures.
Excerpts from the ballet were heard on a recording featuring Don Wilson narrating the story of Ceres and Proserpina, with the music, played by the Continental Symphony Orchestra, serving as accompaniment. This recording was part of an LP issued by Capitol Records entitled Classics for Children.
