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''The Rake's Progress'' is a short 1935 ballet based on the drawings of William Hogarth, with music by Gavin Gordon (1901-1970), choreography by Ninette de Valois, and set design by Rex Whistler. Gavin Gordon had written some earlier ballets that were not successful. By contrast, ''The Rake's Progress'' was an instant hit and has remained in the repertoires of a number of ballet companies. It is the only work of Gavin Gordon's that is remembered today. Gordon based his scenario for the ballet on Hogarth's series of paintings called ''A Rake's Progress''. These paintings influenced him far more literally than was the case with Igor Stravinsky in his 1951 operatic treatment. Stravinsky's Hogarthian borrowings were limited to the name of the protagonist, the general notion of his progress, and specific ideas for two of the scenes.〔(Eric Walter White, ''Stravinsky, The Composer and His Works'' )〕 The ballet was Gordon's own concept, and he persuaded Ninette de Valois to choreograph it. Frederick Ashton was also involved in its creation.〔(British Classical Music: The Land of Lost Content )〕 ''The Rake's Progress'' was produced at the Sadler's Wells Theatre in 1935. The costumes and scenery were by Rex Whistler. They were destroyed in the Netherlands during the Second World War, while Sadler's Wells were visiting that country, but were remade for a revival.〔Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 5th ed, 1954, Vol. III, p. 717〕 The ballet consists of the following numbers: * Prelude * The Reception * The Dancing Lesson (Menuetto galante) * The Orgy (Rondo) * The Faithful Girl (Loure) * The Gambling Den (Gigue) * Outside the Prison Gates (Sarabande) * The Mad House (Quodlibet). Gordon employed the Swannee whistle in his orchestration.〔(Anthony Baines, ''Woodwind Instruments and their History'' )〕 The ballet has had several recordings (conductors include Constant Lambert and Barry Wordsworth).〔(Music Web International )〕 Robert Helpmann, who was in the original cast,〔(Rendezvous in Sarasota )〕 included it in The Royal Ballet's first tour of Australia in 1956.〔(Live Performance Australia Hall of Fame )〕 Other major artists to be associated with ''The Rake's Progress'' include Margot Fonteyn and Beryl Grey. ==Original 1935 cast== * The Rake: Robert Helpmann * The Betrayed Girl: Alicia Markova〔http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dame-alicia-markova-6156634.html〕 * The Dancing Master: * Man with a Rope: * The Rake’s Friend/A Card Player: * Betrayed Girl’s Mother: * The Dancer: * The Ballad Singer: 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Rake's Progress (ballet)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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