Ondine (1958)

Ballet in three acts, freely adapted by Frederick Ashton from the story by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué

MUSIC

Hans Werner Henze

SCENERY & COSTUMES

Lila de Nobili

DANCERS

Ondine: Margot Fonteyn; Palemon: Michael Somes; Berta: Julia Farron; Tirrenio, Lord of the Mediterranean Sea: Alexander Grant; A Hermit: Leslie Edwards; Grand pas classique: Rosemary Lindsay, Annette Page, Ronald Hynd, Desmond Doyle, and corps de ballet; Divertissement: Maryon Lane, Brian Shaw, Merle Park, Doreen Wells, Peter Clegg, Pirmin Trecu, and corps de ballet; Ondines, Hunt, Wood Sprites, People from the Port, Sailors, Wedding Guests, Lackeys, Footmen, Acolytes, Page: corps de ballet

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Royal Ballet, Royal Opera House, London, 27 October 1958

New Stagings / Productions

Royal Ballet, 1959

NEW PRODUCTION

Royal Ballet; revised choreography

DANCERS

(principals) as above

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Royal Opera House, London, 4 September 1959 (?)

Royal Ballet, 1964

NEW PRODUCTION

Royal Ballet; with further revisions

DANCERS

Ondine: Margot Fonteyn; Palemon: Donald MacLeary; Berta: Deanne Bergsma; Tirrenio: Alexander Grant

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Royal Opera House, London, 14 February 1964

Royal Ballet, 1970

STAGING

Royal Ballet; Tribute to Sir Frederick Ashton; “Vision of Ondine” only

DANCERS

Ondine: Christine Aitken

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Royal Opera House, London, 24 July 1970

Royal Ballet, 1981

STAGING

Royal Ballet; Act III divertissement only

DANCERS

Wendy Ellis, Wayne Eagling, Laura Connor, Rosalyn Whitten, Stephen Beagley, Ashley Page

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Royal Opera House, London, 29 May 1981 (50th Anniversary Programme)

Royal Ballet, 1988

STAGING

Royal Ballet

REPRODUCED BY

Christopher Newton

DANCERS

Ondine: Maria Almeida; Palemon: Anthony Dowell; Berta: Deanne Bergsma; Tirrenio: Stephen Jefferies; Divertissement: Rosalyn Whitten, Bruce Sansom, Fiona Brockway, Nicola Roberts, Anthony Dowson, Jay Jolley

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Royal Opera House, London, 10 May 1988

Productions by Other Companies

Ballets de Noël, 1959

STAGING

Ballets de Noël; pas de deux from Act I only

DANCERS

Ondine: Margot Fonteyn; Palemon: Michael Somes

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Théâtre de Monte Carlo, 3 January 1959

Teatro alla Scala, 2000

STAGING

Ballet of the Teatro alla Scala, Milan

REPRODUCED BY

Christopher Carr, Grant Coyle, Donald MacLeary

DANCERS

Ondine: Alessandra Ferri; Palemon: Adam Cooper; Berta: Sabina Galasso; Tirrenio: Biagio Tambone

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Teatro alla Scala, Milan, 21 April 2000