Back Checkmate (ballet) French Checkmate (Bliss) Italian チェックメイト (バレエ) Japanese Szach-mat (balet) Polish
| Checkmate | |
|---|---|
| Choreographer | Ninette de Valois |
| Music | Arthur Bliss |
| Based on | Chess |
| Premiere | 15 June 1937 Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris |
| Original ballet company | Vic-Wells Ballet |
| Characters | Black Queen Red Knight Death Red King Red Queen leader of the Black Pawns |
| Design | Edward McKnight Kauffer |
| Setting | Chessboard |
| Genre | Neoclassical ballet |
Checkmate is a one act ballet created by the choreographer Ninette de Valois and composer Arthur Bliss. The idea for the ballet was proposed by Bliss, and subsequently produced by de Valois for the Vic-Wells Ballet. It was first performed on 15 June 1937 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris.[1] Checkmate is widely regarded as de Valois' signature ballet and a cornerstone of the British ballet repertoire, being performed regularly by the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.[2]
- ^ Crisp, Clement (August 1966). "The Ballets of Arthur Bliss". The Musical Times. 107 (1482): 674–675. doi:10.2307/953113. JSTOR 922735.
- ^ "Masterpieces of the British Ballet: Checkmate and the Rake's Progress, on Video Artists International".