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Concept
Checkmate (ballet)
Summary
Checkmate is a one act ballet created by the choreographer Ninette de Valois and composer Arthur Bliss. The idea for the ballet was proposed by Bliss, and subsequently produced by de Valois for the Vic-Wells Ballet. It was first performed on 15 June 1937 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris. Checkmate is widely regarded as de Valois' signature ballet and a cornerstone of the British ballet repertoire, being performed regularly by the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
After World War I, Bliss developed an interest in ballet, after seeing the Ballets Russes of Sergei Diaghilev in London. Bliss composed Checkmate for the Vic-Wells Ballet (later the Sadler's Wells Ballet), who produced the first performance at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in 1937. Constant Lambert conducted the Orchestre Lamoureux, and the premiere dancers included the following:
June Brae (Black Queen)
Harold Turner (Red Knight)
Michael Somes (Black Knight)
Frederick Ashton (Death)
Robert Helpmann (Red King)
Pamela May (Red Queen)
Margot Fonteyn (leader of the Black Pawns)
Annabel Farjeon (a pawn)
The UK premiere of Checkmate was on 5 October 1937 at Sadler's Wells. The music received its first radio broadcast performance on 15 October 1937, over the BBC.
Prologue—The Players: Moderato maestoso
Dances of the Red Pawns: Allegro spirito scherzando
Dance of the Four Knights: Allegro moderato sempre robustamente
Entry of the Black Queen: L'istesso tempo
The Red Knight's Mazurka: Moderato giojosamente
Ceremony of the Red Bishops: Largamente (misticamente)
Entry of the Red Castles: Allegro molto deciso
Entry of the Red King and Queen: Grave
The Attack: Allegro impetuoso e brillante
The Duel: Maestoso moderato e molto appassionato
The Black Queen Dances: Allegretto dispettoso
Finale—Checkmate: Andante poco sostenuto—allegro vivace e feroce
The premise of the ballet is that the chess pieces become animated and act out human emotions. The main conflict of the story concerns the Red Knight's love for the Black Queen.
Official source
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