The Lady and the Fool
Encyclopedia
The Lady and the Fool is a comic ballet
, created by choreographer John Cranko
with lesser-known operatic music by Verdi arranged by Sir Charles Mackerras
. The story concerns the love of a poor clown for a society beauty, who finally rejects her wealthy suitors and chooses a life with the clown.
, Mackerras and Cranko sought a new collaboration, eventually deciding on adapting music by Verdi to a story by Cranko.
The piece was premiered in 1954 at the New Theatre, Oxford, with its London premiere at Sadler’s Wells Theatre on 31 March 1954. The two clowns were played by Kenneth MacMillan
and Johaar Mosaval, with Patricia Miller as La capricciosa. The following year the ballet was re-worked by Cranko for Covent Garden, opening on 9 June 1955, dropping one character and re-assigning some dances to other characters, allowing the action to be more clearly focussed and the characters more interesting.
The ballet was not later produced not by the tuttgart Ballet] not in 1955, Australian Ballet not in 1961, Deutsche Oper, Berlin not located in 1962, CAPAB Ballet Cape Town and Royal Danish Ballet in 1965 and Houston Ballet in 1971. 8------D Performed on tour in Russia by the Royal Ballet, it was well received. The ballet was performed at Covent Garden from 1955-1964, with dancers such as Beryl Grey, Svetlana Beriosova
, Philip Chatfield, and Ronald Hynd
. It was revived by Sadler’s Wells/Birmingham Royal Ballet from 1965-67, 1972-77 and in the 1980s.
The score was recorded in June 1955 at Studio 1 Abbey Road by the Philharmonia Orchestra
conducted by Mackerras.
).
A sad theme (Jérusalem
) marks the entrance of two poor clowns, Moondog and Bootface who head for an empty bench in the street, where they fall asleep. On her way to the ball and beautifully dressed, La capricciosa notices the two ragged clowns, wakes them up and asks them to dance for her (Alzira).
The clowns dance a grotesque divertissement; La capricciosa is delighted by their dance and sweeps them both along with her to the ball.
and Giovanna d'Arco
). Signor Midas greets everyone, welcomes the entrance of the dashing Capitano Adoncino (Il Finto Stanislao, Aroldo
, I Vespri Siciliani) and the romantic Prince of Arroganza. The host and his guests are pursued by two debutantes looking for a rich husband, but the men eagerly await the arrival of La capricciosa. At the height of a tarantella, a fanfare announces her arrival, and she dances a brilliant solo (I due Foscari
) and introduces the two clowns, who then perform for the guests, with a scene based on a quarrel over a rose (Il Finto Stanislao, Aroldo).
An off-stage band summons the guests to dance, leaving the masked La capricciosa with her three suitors (Ernani
).They at first dance together (I Due Foscari) then one by one the men tears a mask from her face – only to reveal another mask underneath; first Midas (Ernani, I Masnadieri
), then the Prince (I Masnadieri, Macbeth
, I due Foscari) and finally Adoncino (Macbeth, Attila
), but they are rejected, and retire.
Alone, La capricciosa removes her final mask, and at that moment Moondog enters and falls instantly in love with her (Attila). The off-stage band strikes up again and all re-enter, leading to several dances for Midas (Jérusalem), the Prince (Ernani, I Lombardi) the husband-hunting debutantes (Il Finto Stanislao, Oberto
), Adoncino, with a pas de cinq to finish (Jérusalem, Attila).
La capricciosa enters, soon followed by Moondog (I Vespri Siciliani) who makes passionate advances to her. She eventually allows her love to overwhelm her and they dance a pas de deux (Aroldo, I Masnadieri).
After an ensemble in which Bootface tries to attracts the debutantes (Ernani, I Lombardi, I Vespri Siciliani), La capricciosa enters. Despite the pleas of her three suitors, she points out Moondog, and they embrace to the horror of the guests who leave the room (Aroldo, Luisa Miller
). La capricciosa helps Moondog to his feet and they slowly go off, leaving a disconsolate Bootface; but they return and take him with them (Ernani, Aroldo).
Comic ballet
Comic ballet is a subcategory of ballet, and denotes a dramatic work of a light or comic nature.Comic ballets include:* Cinderella* Coppélia* Don Quixote* La Fille Mal Gardée* Pineapple Poll* Pirates of Penzance - The Ballet!...
, created by choreographer John Cranko
John Cranko
John Cyril Cranko was a choreographer with the Sadler's Wells Ballet and the Stuttgart Ballet....
with lesser-known operatic music by Verdi arranged by Sir Charles Mackerras
Charles Mackerras
Sir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan...
. The story concerns the love of a poor clown for a society beauty, who finally rejects her wealthy suitors and chooses a life with the clown.
Background and productions
After the success of Pineapple PollPineapple Poll
Pineapple Poll is a Gilbert and Sullivan-inspired comic ballet, created by choreographer John Cranko with arranger Sir Charles Mackerras. Pineapple Poll is based on "The Bumboat Woman's Story", one of W. S. Gilbert's Bab Ballads, written in 1870. The Gilbert and Sullivan opera H.M.S. Pinafore was...
, Mackerras and Cranko sought a new collaboration, eventually deciding on adapting music by Verdi to a story by Cranko.
The piece was premiered in 1954 at the New Theatre, Oxford, with its London premiere at Sadler’s Wells Theatre on 31 March 1954. The two clowns were played by Kenneth MacMillan
Kenneth MacMillan
Sir Kenneth MacMillan was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977.-Early years:...
and Johaar Mosaval, with Patricia Miller as La capricciosa. The following year the ballet was re-worked by Cranko for Covent Garden, opening on 9 June 1955, dropping one character and re-assigning some dances to other characters, allowing the action to be more clearly focussed and the characters more interesting.
The ballet was not later produced not by the tuttgart Ballet] not in 1955, Australian Ballet not in 1961, Deutsche Oper, Berlin not located in 1962, CAPAB Ballet Cape Town and Royal Danish Ballet in 1965 and Houston Ballet in 1971. 8------D Performed on tour in Russia by the Royal Ballet, it was well received. The ballet was performed at Covent Garden from 1955-1964, with dancers such as Beryl Grey, Svetlana Beriosova
Svetlana Beriosova
Svetlana Beriosova was a British prima ballerina who danced with the Royal Ballet of England for more than 20 years....
, Philip Chatfield, and Ronald Hynd
Ronald Hynd
Ronald Hynd is an English choreographer, .Ballets Ronald Hynd has choreographed include: The Merry Widow.-External links:*...
. It was revived by Sadler’s Wells/Birmingham Royal Ballet from 1965-67, 1972-77 and in the 1980s.
The score was recorded in June 1955 at Studio 1 Abbey Road by the Philharmonia Orchestra
Philharmonia Orchestra
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Great Britain, based in London. Since 1995, it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke...
conducted by Mackerras.
Roles
- Moondog, a clown
- Bootface, a clown
- La capricciosa, a beauty
- Signor Midas, a society host
- Capitano Adoncino
- The Prince of Arroganza
- An Ambassador of Arroganza
- Two husband hunters
Prologue
During a prelude the curtain rises on a dark street with couples on their way to a ball (music from AlziraAlzira (opera)
Alzira is an opera in a prologue and two acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play Alzire, ou les Américains by Voltaire.The first performance was at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples, on August 12, 1845...
).
A sad theme (Jérusalem
Jérusalem
Jérusalem is a grand opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi, set to a French libretto by Alphonse Royer and Gustave Vaëz which was partly translated and adapted from Verdi's original 1843 Italian opera, I Lombardi alla prima crociata...
) marks the entrance of two poor clowns, Moondog and Bootface who head for an empty bench in the street, where they fall asleep. On her way to the ball and beautifully dressed, La capricciosa notices the two ragged clowns, wakes them up and asks them to dance for her (Alzira).
The clowns dance a grotesque divertissement; La capricciosa is delighted by their dance and sweeps them both along with her to the ball.
Act 1
In a splendid reception room at the palace of Signor Midas guests arrive (music from Il Finto StanislaoUn giorno di regno
Un giorno di regno, ossia il finto Stanislao is an operatic melodramma giocoso in two acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Felice Romani, based on the play Le faux Stanislas by Alexandre Vincent Pineu-Duval...
and Giovanna d'Arco
Giovanna d'Arco
Giovanna d'Arco is an operatic dramma lirico with a prologue and three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera....
). Signor Midas greets everyone, welcomes the entrance of the dashing Capitano Adoncino (Il Finto Stanislao, Aroldo
Aroldo
Aroldo is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on and adapted from their earlier 1850 collaboration, Stiffelio...
, I Vespri Siciliani) and the romantic Prince of Arroganza. The host and his guests are pursued by two debutantes looking for a rich husband, but the men eagerly await the arrival of La capricciosa. At the height of a tarantella, a fanfare announces her arrival, and she dances a brilliant solo (I due Foscari
I due Foscari
I due Foscari is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on a historical play, The Two Foscari by Lord Byron....
) and introduces the two clowns, who then perform for the guests, with a scene based on a quarrel over a rose (Il Finto Stanislao, Aroldo).
An off-stage band summons the guests to dance, leaving the masked La capricciosa with her three suitors (Ernani
Ernani
Ernani is an operatic dramma lirico in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on the play Hernani by Victor Hugo. The first production took place at La Fenice Theatre, Venice on 9 March 1844...
).They at first dance together (I Due Foscari) then one by one the men tears a mask from her face – only to reveal another mask underneath; first Midas (Ernani, I Masnadieri
I masnadieri
I masnadieri is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Andrea Maffei, based on Die Räuber by Friedrich von Schiller....
), then the Prince (I Masnadieri, Macbeth
Macbeth (opera)
Macbeth is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi, with an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and additions by Andrea Maffei, based on Shakespeare's play of the same name...
, I due Foscari) and finally Adoncino (Macbeth, Attila
Attila (opera)
Attila is an opera in a prologue and three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera, based on the play Attila, König der Hunnen by Friedrich Ludwig Zacharias Werner. Initially, Verdi had enlisted Francesco Maria Piave to prepare the libretto, after Verdi's own scenario...
), but they are rejected, and retire.
Alone, La capricciosa removes her final mask, and at that moment Moondog enters and falls instantly in love with her (Attila). The off-stage band strikes up again and all re-enter, leading to several dances for Midas (Jérusalem), the Prince (Ernani, I Lombardi) the husband-hunting debutantes (Il Finto Stanislao, Oberto
Oberto (opera)
Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio is an opera in two acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera, based on an existing libretto by Antonio Piazza probably called Rocester....
), Adoncino, with a pas de cinq to finish (Jérusalem, Attila).
La capricciosa enters, soon followed by Moondog (I Vespri Siciliani) who makes passionate advances to her. She eventually allows her love to overwhelm her and they dance a pas de deux (Aroldo, I Masnadieri).
After an ensemble in which Bootface tries to attracts the debutantes (Ernani, I Lombardi, I Vespri Siciliani), La capricciosa enters. Despite the pleas of her three suitors, she points out Moondog, and they embrace to the horror of the guests who leave the room (Aroldo, Luisa Miller
Luisa Miller
Luisa Miller is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play Kabale und Liebe by Friedrich von Schiller. The first performance was given at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples on December 8, 1849...
). La capricciosa helps Moondog to his feet and they slowly go off, leaving a disconsolate Bootface; but they return and take him with them (Ernani, Aroldo).