Harlequin in the Street (1938)

Ballet after Jean-François Regnard (1656-1710)

MUSIC

François Couperin, arranged by Constant Lambert, orchestrated by Gordon Jacob

1 Prologue–Overture 22me Ordre No 1, Le Trophée

2(a) Street Scene: 11me Ordre No 5, Les Fastes de la grande et ancienne M*n*str*nds, Deuxième Acte: 1er Air de Vieille–Les Vieilleux et les Gueux; (b) Knifegrinder*: 1er Ordre No 14, La Manon; (c) Commères: ?6me Ordre No 7, Les Commères; (d) Bread-boy: 2me Ordre No 12, La Diane

3 Messenger: 23me Ordre No 2, Les Tricoteuses

4 Man’s Solo: 24me Ordre No 1, Les Fastes de la grande et ancienne M*n*str*nds, Les vieux Seigneurs

5 Porters: 24me Ordre No 2, Les jeunes Seigneurs, cy-disant Les Petits Maîtres, 2me Partie

6 Disguising Scene: 1Ome Ordre No 1, La Triomphante

7 L’Arlequin: ?23me Ordre No 3, L’Arlequin

8 La Superbe: 9me Ordre No 3, Les Charmes

9 Disguised Lovers: 6me Ordre No 1, Les Moissonneurs

10 Dénouement: 18me Ordre No 6, Le Tic-Toc-Choc, ou, Les Maillatins

11 Epilogue: 1st solo, reprise

SCENERY & COSTUMES

André Derain

DANCERS

La Superbe: June Brae; Monseigneur: Michael Somes; Harlequin: Alan Carter; Porters: Stanley Hall, John Hart; Commères: Palma Nye, Jill Gregory, Patricia Garnett; Bird-Catcher: Richard Ellis; Bread Boy: Frank Staff; Letter Bearer: John Nicholson

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Vic-Wells Ballet, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London, 10 November 1938

*It will be noted that this is a character from the earlier (1937) version of the ballet; presumably the second version, though revised and extended to the point of being an entirely new work, included music from the earlier version. The list given here is from the two-piano score arranged by Constant Lambert during World War II, now in the Music Library of the Royal Opera House, to which I am indebted for allowing me to examine it.

New Stagings / Productions

Royal Ballet, 1970

STAGING

Royal Ballet; Tribute to Sir Frederick Ashton; excerpt only

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Royal Opera House, London, 24 July 1970

Ballet for All, 1973

STAGING

Ballet for All; solo for Harlequin only

REPRODUCED BY

Alan Carter

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe, 11 October 1973