Ballet
Marguerite and Armand
Ashton made this as a love letter to Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev, and you can feel it in every step. It is the Lady of the Camellias story compressed into one intense, swooning arc. For decades it was considered theirs alone, which only added to the legend.
Fast facts
- Composer
- Franz Liszt (orchestrated for the ballet)
- Choreographer
- Frederick Ashton (1963)
- Premiere
- 1963, London
- Structure
- One act
- Running time
- About 35 minutes
The story
Based on the same source as La Traviata, it follows the Parisian courtesan Marguerite and her passionate young lover Armand. Their romance is torn apart by his disapproving father and by Marguerite's failing health, told as a feverish flashback from her deathbed. The whole piece is a single rush of memory and emotion, building to a heartbreaking final reunion.
What Marguerite and Armand is famous for
- Created for Fonteyn and Nureyev
- The Lady of the Camellias story
- Liszt's sweeping piano music orchestrated
- Intense, compressed one-act drama
Companies that perform Marguerite and Armand
Marguerite and Armand is in the repertoire of companies including The Royal Ballet.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same story as La Traviata?
Yes, both come from Dumas' novel The Lady of the Camellias, so it is the doomed courtesan love story in danced form.
Why is it tied to Fonteyn and Nureyev?
Ashton created it specifically for them in 1963, and for years it was thought to belong to that legendary partnership before other dancers took it on.
What music did Ashton use?
He used Franz Liszt's music, built around the Piano Sonata in B minor, orchestrated for the ballet.
Who composed Marguerite and Armand?
Marguerite and Armand was composed by Franz Liszt (orchestrated for the ballet).
How long is Marguerite and Armand?
Marguerite and Armand runs about 35 minutes.