The Wise Virgins (1940)
Abbreviations:
M Music by
S Scenery by
C Costumes by
D Danced by
FP First performance
NP New production
R Reproduced by
ST Staging (indicates that the ballet was produced in substantially its original form)
M Johann Sebastian Bach, arranged by Constant Lambert, orchestrated by William Walton
1. Cantata 140: Wachet auf (final chorale)
2. Cantata 142: Dein Geburstag ist erschienen (bass aria)
3. Cantata 99: Was Gott tut (opening chorus)
4. Organ Chorale BWU 727: Herzlich tutmir verlangen
5. Cantata 85: Ich bin ein guter Hirt (tenor aria), Seht, was die Liebe tut
6. Cantata 26: Ach wie fluchtig (opening chorus)
7. Cantata 208: Was mir behagt (soprano aria), Schafe, können sicher weiden
8. As 3, with different scoring, orchestrated to two ritornelli without chorale
9. Cantata 129: Gelobet sei der Herr (concluding chorale setting)
Curtain SC Rex Whistler
D The Bridegroom: Michael Somes; The Bride: Margot Fonteyn; The Father: Claude Newman; The Mother: Annabel Farjeon; Wise Virgins: Julia Farron, Olive Deacon, Joan Leaman, Joan Sheldon, Palma Nye; Foolish Virgins: Mary Honer, Elizabeth Kennedy, Joy Newton, Patricia Garnett, Jean Bedells; Angels: Richard Ellis, John Hart, Leslie Edwards, Leo Young, Stanley Hall; Cherubs: Deryk Mendel, Margaret Dale, Guineverre Parry, Mavis Jackson
FP Vic-Wells Ballet, Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, 24 April 1940
ST Royal Ballet; Tribute to Sir Frederick Ashton; solo for the Bride only
D Margot Fonteyn, who danced it again on other occasions
Royal Opera House, London, 24 July 1970
ST Ballet for All; solo for the Bride only
FP Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe, 13 October 1972
Copyright © 2004 by David Vaughan