Overview
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 of Checkmate at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées on 15 June 1937. Constant Lambert conducted the Lamoureux Orchestra, and the premiere dancers included the following:
- June Brae (Black Queen)
- Harold Turner (Red Knight)
- Frederick Ashton (Death)
- Robert Helpmann (Red King)
- Pamela May (Red Queen)
- Margot Fonteyn (leader of the Black Pawns)
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.
Read more about this topic: Checkmate (ballet)