Gavin Gordon had written some earlier ballets that were not successful. By contrast, The Rake's Progress was an instant hit and has remained in the repertoires of a number of ballet companies. It is the only work of Gavin Gordon's that is remembered today.
Gordon based his scenario for the ballet on Hogarth's series of paintings called A Rake's Progress. These paintings influenced him far more literally than was the case with Igor Stravinsky in his 1951 operatic treatment. Stravinsky's Hogarthian borrowings were limited to the name of the protagonist, the general notion of his progress, and specific ideas for two of the scenes.[1]
The ballet was Gordon's own concept, and he persuaded Ninette de Valois to choreograph it.
The Rake's Progress was produced at the Sadler's Wells Theatre in 1935. The costumes and scenery were by Rex Whistler. They were destroyed in the Netherlands during the Second World War, while Sadler's Wells were visiting that country, but were remade for a revival.[2]
^"Sir Robert Helpmann 3". Liveperformance.com.au. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
^"Dame Alicia Markova". The Independent. 3 December 2004. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
Sourcesedit
Blom, Eric ed. (1954). Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 5th edition. St. Martin's Press.
Schueneman, Bruce R. and William Emmett Studwell: Minor ballet composers: biographical sketches of sixty-six underappreciated composers (Psychology Press, 1997) p.45.
November 28, 2023
rake, progress, ballet, rake, progress, short, 1935, ballet, based, drawings, william, hogarth, with, music, gavin, gordon, 1901, 1970, choreography, ninette, valois, design, whistler, gavin, gordon, written, some, earlier, ballets, that, were, successful, con. The Rake s Progress is a short 1935 ballet based on the drawings of William Hogarth with music by Gavin Gordon 1901 1970 choreography by Ninette de Valois and set design by Rex Whistler Gavin Gordon had written some earlier ballets that were not successful By contrast The Rake s Progress was an instant hit and has remained in the repertoires of a number of ballet companies It is the only work of Gavin Gordon s that is remembered today Contents 1 Background 2 Structure 3 Original 1935 cast 4 1982 revival cast 5 References 6 SourcesBackground editGordon based his scenario for the ballet on Hogarth s series of paintings called A Rake s Progress These paintings influenced him far more literally than was the case with Igor Stravinsky in his 1951 operatic treatment Stravinsky s Hogarthian borrowings were limited to the name of the protagonist the general notion of his progress and specific ideas for two of the scenes 1 The ballet was Gordon s own concept and he persuaded Ninette de Valois to choreograph it The Rake s Progress was produced at the Sadler s Wells Theatre in 1935 The costumes and scenery were by Rex Whistler They were destroyed in the Netherlands during the Second World War while Sadler s Wells were visiting that country but were remade for a revival 2 Structure editThe ballet consists of the following numbers Prelude The Reception The Dancing Lesson Menuetto galante The Orgy Rondo The Faithful Girl Loure The Gambling Den Gigue Outside the Prison Gates Sarabande The Mad House Quodlibet Gordon employed the Swannee whistle in his orchestration 3 The ballet has had several recordings conductors include Constant Lambert and Barry Wordsworth 4 Robert Helpmann who was in the original cast 5 included it in The Royal Ballet s first tour of Australia in 1956 6 Other major artists to be associated with The Rake s Progress include Margot Fonteyn and Beryl Grey Original 1935 cast editThe Rake Robert Helpmann The Betrayed Girl Alicia Markova 7 The Dancing Master Man with a Rope The Rake s Friend A Card Player Betrayed Girl s Mother The Dancer The Ballad Singer 1982 revival cast editThe Rake David Morse The Betrayed Girl Nicola Katrak The Dancing Master Kim Reeder Man with a Rope David Bintley The Rake s Friend A Card Player Michael Corder Betrayed Girl s Mother Susan Crow The Dancer Chenca Williams The Ballad Singer Siobhan StanleyReferences edit Eric Walter White 1966 Stravinsky the Composer and His Works University of California Press p 418 LCCN 66 27667 Grove s Dictionary of Music and Musicians 5th ed 1954 Vol III p 717 Anthony Baines Adrian Boult 2012 1991 Woodwind Instruments and Their History Courier Corporation p 35 ISBN 978 0486268859 Tribute to madam IL Classical Reviews November 2001 MusicWeb UK Musicweb international com 1 November 2001 Retrieved 24 May 2019 Rendezvous in Sarasota Sir Robert Helpmann 3 Liveperformance com au Retrieved 24 May 2019 Dame Alicia Markova The Independent 3 December 2004 Archived from the original on 18 June 2022 Retrieved 24 May 2019 Sources editBlom Eric ed 1954 Grove s Dictionary of Music and Musicians 5th edition St Martin s Press Schueneman Bruce R and William Emmett Studwell Minor ballet composers biographical sketches of sixty six underappreciated composers Psychology Press 1997 p 45 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Rake 27s Progress ballet amp oldid 1093818030, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
