[Photo Album] First photos of The Royal Ballet’s Ashton Triple Bill

Sarah Lamb and Vadim Muntagirov in Scenes de ballet photo by Helen Maybanks ROH

Tonight, Saturday 23 April, The Royal Opera House curtain goes up on a triple bill of ballets by Frederick Ashton: Scènes de ballet, A Month in the Country, and Rhapsody.

Frederick Ashton, The Royal Ballet‘s founder choreographer, created a remarkable range of ballets. In this mixed programme, the detailed characters and emotional drama of A Month in the Country are contrasted with the dazzling and chic Scènes de ballet. The programme finishes with Rhapsody – Ashton’s tribute to virtuoso dance.

Frederick Ashton created more than one hundred works during his lifetime (1904–1988). For further information, visit www.frederickashton.org.uk.

Scènes de ballet

Scènes de ballet was first performed by Sadler’s Wells Ballet at The Royal Opera House on 11 February 1948 with Margot Fonteyn, Michael Somes, Alexander Grant, Donald Britton, John Field, Philip Chatfield, and the corps de ballet. In the dress rehearsal photos are Sarah Lamb and Vadim Muntagirov.

Sarah Lamb in Scenes de ballets photo by Helen Maybanks ROH

Vadim Muntagirov and Sarah Lamb in Scenes de ballet photo by Helen Maybanks ROH

A Month in the Country

A Month in the Country is a ballet in one act freely adapted from Ivan Turgenev’s play. The first interpreters were Lynn Seymour; Alexander Grant; Wayne Sleep; Denise Nunn; Derek Rencher; Marguerite Porter; Anthony Conway; and Anthony Dowell with The Royal Ballet at The Royal Opera House on 12 February 1976.

In the photos below are Marianela Nuñez, Gary Avis, Christopher Saunders, Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Matthew Ball.

Anna Rose O’Sullivan in A Month in the Country photo by Helen Maybanks ROH

Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Matthew Ball in A Month in the Country photo by Helen Maybanks ROH

Matthew Ball and Marianela Nuñez in A Month in the Country photo Helen Maybanks ROH

Marianela Nuñez Matthew Ball in A Month in the Country photo by Helen Maybanks

Marianela Nuñez and Matthew ball A Month in the Country ROH photo by Helen Maybanks

Marianela Nuñez and Matthew Ball A Month in the Country photo by Helen Maybanks ROH

Marianela Nuñez and Gary Avis in A Month in the Country photo by Helen Maybanks ROH

Marianela Nuñez and Christopher saunders in A Month in the Country photo by Helen Maybanks ROH

Rhapsody

Rhapsody was first performed with The Royal Ballet at The Royal Opera House on 4 August 1980. The opening night cast starred Lesley Collier, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Bryony Brind, Angela Cox, Gillian Kingsley, Karen Paisey, Genesia Rosato, Gail Taphouse, Michael Batchelor, Stephen Beagley, Antony Dowson, Ross MacGibbon, Ashley Page, and Andrew Ward.

In the photo below are Marcelino Sambé and Francesca Hayward.

Marcelino Sambé and Francesca Hayward in Rhapsody photo by Helen Maybanks ROH

Gramilano Editor

Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Italian ballerina Carla Fracci.

Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.

He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.