The Rake's Progress (ballet)
Encyclopedia
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.
Gordon based his scenario for the ballet on Hogarth's series of pictures called A Rake's Progress
. These pictures 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.
The ballet was Gordon's own concept, and he persuaded Ninette de Valois
to choreograph it. Frederick Ashton
was also involved in its creation.
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.
The ballet consists of the following numbers:
Gordon employed the Swannee whistle
in his orchestration.
The ballet has had several recordings (conductors include Constant Lambert
and Barry Wordsworth
), and it remains in the repertoires of various companies around the world.
Robert Helpmann
, who was in the original cast, included it in The Royal Ballet's first tour of Australia in 1956. Other major artists to be assoociated with The Rake's Progress include Margot Fonteyn
and Beryl Grey.
William Hogarth
William Hogarth was an English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic and editorial cartoonist who has been credited with pioneering western sequential art. His work ranged from realistic portraiture to comic strip-like series of pictures called "modern moral subjects"...
, with music by Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon (composer)
Gavin Gordon was a Scottish bass singer, actor and composer, best known for his 1935 Hogarthian ballet The Rake's Progress.-Biography:Gavin Gordon was born in Ayr, Scotland in 1901, as Gavin Muspratt Gordon Brown...
(1901-1970), choreography by Ninette de Valois
Ninette de Valois
Dame Ninette de Valois, OM, CH, DBE, FRAD, FISTD was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer and director of classical ballet...
, and set design by Rex Whistler
Rex Whistler
Reginald John 'Rex' Whistler was a British artist, designer and illustrator.-Biography:Rex Whistler was born in Eltham, Kent, the son of Henry and Helen Frances Mary 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.
Gordon based his scenario for the ballet on Hogarth's series of pictures called A Rake's Progress
A Rake's Progress
A Rake's Progress is a series of eight paintings by 18th century English artist William Hogarth. The canvases were produced in 1732–33 then engraved and published in print form in 1735...
. These pictures influenced him far more literally than was the case with Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
in his 1951 operatic treatment
The Rake's Progress
The Rake's Progress is an opera in three acts and an epilogue by Igor Stravinsky. The libretto, written by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman, is based loosely on the eight paintings and engravings A Rake's Progress of William Hogarth, which Stravinsky had seen on May 2, 1947, in a Chicago...
. 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.
The ballet was Gordon's own concept, and he persuaded Ninette de Valois
Ninette de Valois
Dame Ninette de Valois, OM, CH, DBE, FRAD, FISTD was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer and director of classical ballet...
to choreograph it. Frederick Ashton
Frederick Ashton
Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton OM, CH, CBE was a leading international dancer and choreographer. He is most noted as the founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet in London, but also worked as a director and choreographer of opera, film and theatre revues.-Early life:Ashton was born at...
was also involved in its creation.
The Rake's Progress was produced at the Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...
in 1935. The costumes and scenery were by Rex Whistler
Rex Whistler
Reginald John 'Rex' Whistler was a British artist, designer and illustrator.-Biography:Rex Whistler was born in Eltham, Kent, the son of Henry and Helen Frances Mary 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.
The 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
Slide whistle
A slide whistle is a wind instrument consisting of a fipple like a recorder's and a tube with a piston in it. Thus it has an air reed like some woodwinds, but varies the pitch with a slide. The construction is rather like a bicycle pump...
in his orchestration.
The ballet has had several recordings (conductors include Constant Lambert
Constant Lambert
Leonard Constant Lambert was a British composer and conductor.-Early life:Lambert, the son of Russian-born Australian painter George Lambert, was educated at Christ's Hospital and the Royal College of Music...
and Barry Wordsworth
Barry Wordsworth
Barry Wordsworth is a British conductor.From 1989 to 2006, Wordsworth was principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra, and now holds the title of conductor laureate. From 1990 to 1995, Wordsworth was music director of the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden. He began his second tenure in that post in...
), and it remains in the repertoires of various companies around the world.
Robert Helpmann
Robert Helpmann
Sir Robert Helpmann CBE was an Australian dancer, actor, theatre director and choreographer.-Early years:He was born Robert Murray Helpman in Mount Gambier, South Australia and also boarded at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide. From childhood, Helpman had a strong desire to be a dancer...
, who was in the original cast, included it in The Royal Ballet's first tour of Australia in 1956. Other major artists to be assoociated with The Rake's Progress include Margot Fonteyn
Margot Fonteyn
Dame Margot Fonteyn de Arias, DBE , was an English ballerina of the 20th century. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest classical ballet dancers of all time...
and Beryl Grey.
Sources
- Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 5th ed, 1954
- Bruce R. Schueneman, William Emmett Studwell: Minor ballet composers: biographical sketches of sixty-six underappreciated composers