Classics of the Royal Ballet

by Jesse Davis

The plots of six ballets are accompanied by photographs of performances by the Royal Ballet. Included are "The Nutcracker," "Swan Lake," "La Fille Mal Gardâee," "Giselle," "Romeo and Juliet," and "The Sleeping Beauty."

96 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Surreysmum · Rating 3 out of 5]

As advertised in Anthony Dowell's foreword, "this book sets out to tell you, with as little written description as possible, the stories of six ballets that are amongst the greatest." The photos are chiefly black and white, with 12 plates of colour photos interspersed. The book is not oversized, but there are enough full-page photos, particularly of the stars of the period, to make it attractive. The textual material is essentially that of a theatre program for each ballet: a cast list and credits, plus a plot summary.

Pictured are:
1. The Nutcracker, with Merle Park and Rudolf Nureyev.
2. Swan Lake, with Merle Park and Anthony Dowell.
3. La Fille Mal Gardée, with Brenda Last, Desmond Kelly, and Ronald Emblen as the Widow.
4. Giselle, with Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell.
5. Romeo and Juliet, with Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev.
6. The Sleeping Beauty, with Lesley Collier and Anthony Dowell.

Photos throughout the approximately 80 pages of the volume are by Jesse Davis. I own the 1978 hardback edition by Macdonald and Jane's, London.

This must have been a real souvenir treasure for those lucky enough to see that constellation of stars at the Royal Ballet of the '70s. Though it is not over-large or flashy, it is still a pleasure to leaf through, and my copy has survived its nearly 50 years very well.