The Rake's Progress

[trog]

Last night I watched a newly aquired recording from 1982, of De Valois The Rake's Progress, so old Davids Morse and Bintley were in it. Does anyone know why this lovely small ballet seems to have fallen by the wayside?

[jm365]

I go even further back - saw it with Robert Helpmann and Margot Fonteyn.  It seems to me just as worth doing as Checkmate - and that does occasionally pop up!

[Bluebird]

1 hour ago, trog said:

Last night I watched a newly aquired recording from 1982, of De Valois The Rake's Progress, so old Davids Morse and Bintley were in it. Does anyone know why this lovely small ballet seems to have fallen by the wayside?

 

I remember the 2006 revival but, according to the ROH performance data base, apart from one performance in 1998, these were the first performances by the Royal Ballet since 1964!

 

http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/production.aspx?production=2194&row=0

 

 Maybe those readers with long memories might be able to let us know if the data base is accurate?

Edited May 19, 2020 by Bluebird

[bangorballetboy]

The '82 revival was SWRB at Sadlers' Wells (which might explain its absence from the ROH Collections database).

[alison]

One performance in 1998?  Was that at the Barbican?  If so, only the one?  Was it for the gala?  Could have sworn I recalled a couple of rakes.  And surely Hatley and Wildor as the Girl?

[Bluebird]

1 hour ago, alison said:

One performance in 1998?  Was that at the Barbican?  If so, only the one?  Was it for the gala?  Could have sworn I recalled a couple of rakes.  And surely Hatley and Wildor as the Girl?

 

If you click on the performance data base link, you'll see that it was at the Barbican.  http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/production.aspx?production=2194&row=0

 

It was 'a performance in celebration of Dame Ninette de Valois' 100th birthday' with Stuart Cassidy and Sarah Wildor: http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/performance.aspx?performance=8397&row=31

 

Belinda Hatley is listed as the Girl (with Samodurov as The Rake)  in the 2006 performances. http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/performance.aspx?performance=4091&row=33

 

Edited to add that Laura Morera is also listed as the Girl in the 2006 performances (with Johan Kobborg as The Rake)

 

 

Edited May 19, 2020 by Bluebird

[Lizbie1]

4 hours ago, jm365 said:

I go even further back - saw it with Robert Helpmann and Margot Fonteyn.  It seems to me just as worth doing as Checkmate - and that does occasionally pop up!

 

Wow! How lucky you are to have seen that.

[bridiem]

I'd love to see it again. (And Checkmate too.)

[Jan McNulty]

I saw SWRB performing The Rake's Progress as a newbie ballet watcher.  I didn't like it at all.  When I was on a course in London I went to the Sir John Soane museum and saw the Hogarth paintings cited in the programme.  I didn't like them either.

[Guest]

Oh Janet!!!!!

[Jan McNulty]

19 minutes ago, Darlex said:

Oh Janet!!!!!

 

Well I do love Checkmate and very much enjoyed The Prospect Before Us...

[Beryl H]

I used to always enjoy Checkmate in the past, but was bored by the last revivals by both BRB and RB, the vigour and excitement seemed to have faded, perhaps another revival now could revitalise it. I liked The Rake's Progress ( in 2006 thanks to above poster) when Johan Kobborg danced it, this ballet could look very good again too, think it really captures the atmosphere of the paintings, perhaps better in the Linbury.