''Birthday Offering'' is a

pièce d'occasion A pièce d'occasion () like the word ''pièce'' meaning preparing and ''d'occasion'' meaning for special occasion suggests pis a composition, dance or theatrical piece composed, often commissioned, for a festive occasion. Examples * ''The Dying ...

in one scene choreographed by

Frederick Ashton Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton (17 September 190418 August 1988) was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He also worked as a director and choreographer in opera, film and revue. Determined to be a dancer despite the opposit ...

to music by

Alexander Glazunov Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov; ger, Glasunow (, 10 August 1865 – 21 March 1936) was a Russian composer, music teacher, and conductor of the late Russian Romantic period. He was director of the Saint Petersburg Conservatory between 190 ...

, arranged by Robert Irving. The ballet was created in 1956, to celebrate the

Royal Ballet The Royal Ballet is a British internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. The largest of the five major ballet companies in Great Britain, the Royal Ballet was founded in ...

's 25th anniversary. The first performance took place on 5 May 1956 at the

Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. It is the home of The Royal ...

, London.

Original cast

Margot Fonteyn Dame Margaret Evelyn de Arias DBE (''née'' Hookham; 18 May 191921 February 1991), known by the stage name Margot Fonteyn, was an English ballerina. She spent her entire career as a dancer with the Royal Ballet (formerly the Sadler's Wells ...

Beryl Grey Dame Beryl Elizabeth Grey (née Groom; 11 June 1927 – 10 December 2022) was a British ballet dancer. Early life Born in Highgate, London, she began dance classes at the age of four while attending Sherbourne Preparatory School, and by age e ...

Violetta Elvin Violetta Elvin ( Prokhorova; 3 November 1923 – 27 May 2021) was a Russian prima ballerina and actress. In 1986, '' The Times'' described Elvin as "the only rival ever to give Dame Margot Fonteyn a run for her money". Early life Elvin was born ...

Nadia Nerina Nadia is a female name. Variations include Nadja, Nadya, Nadine, Nadiya, and Nadiia. Most variations of the name are derived from Arabic, Slavic languages, or both. In Slavic, names similar to ''Nadia'' mean "hope" in many Slavic languages: ...

* Rowena Jackson * Svetlana Beriosova *

Elaine Fifield Elaine Fifield (28 October 1930 - 11 May 1999) was an Australian ballerina, perhaps best known for creating the title role in John Cranko's comic ballet ''Pineapple Poll'' in 1951. Early life Elaine Fifield was born in Sydney, New South Wales o ...

Michael Somes Michael George Somes CBE (28 September 191718 November 1994), was an English ballet dancer. He was a principal dancer of The Royal Ballet, London, and the frequent partner of Margot Fonteyn. Early years Somes was born in Horsley, Gloucester ...

* Alexander Grant *

Brian Shaw Brian Keith Shaw (born March 22, 1966) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He could play both guard positions, but wa ...

Philip Chatfield Philip Chatfield (2 December 1927 – 25 July 2021) was a British born ballet dancer, choreographer and artistic director. He danced for the The Royal Ballet, Royal Ballet and was artistic director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Early life ...

* David Blair * Desmond Doyle *

Bryan Ashbridge Bryan may refer to: Places United States * Bryan, Arkansas * Bryan, Kentucky * Bryan, Ohio * Bryan, Texas * Bryan, Wyoming, a ghost town in Sweetwater County in the U.S. state of Wyoming * Bryan Township (disambiguation) Facilities and struct ...

Source: dead link

Order of numbers

In a sumptuous setting, seven couples make a grand entrance, then the women perform a series of seven solo variations. The men dance a bravura mazurka, the principal couple performs an elegant ''pas de deux'', and the ballet ends with a final waltz for the entire ensemble.Matthew Naughtin, ''Ballet Music'', 2014, p. 165. # Overture: "L'Eté" from ''The Seasons'', Op. 67 # Valse de concert No. 1, Op. 47 # Pas d'action from ''Scènes de ballet'', Op. 52, and Coda from ''Ruses d'amour'', Op. 61 # 1st variation: "Marionettes" from ''Scènes de ballet'' # 2nd variation: "La Givre" from ''The Seasons'' # 3rd variation: "La Glace" from ''The Seasons'' # 4th variation: "La Grêle" from ''The Seasons'' # 5th variation: "La Neige" from ''The Seasons'' # 6th variation: "L'Eté" from ''The Seasons'' # 7th variation: from ''Ruses d'amour'' # Mazurka, Op. 25 No. 3, (orchestrated by Robert Irving) # Pas de deux; "Grand pas des fiancées" from ''Ruses d'amour'' # Finale: Valse de concert No. 1, reprise

References

Notes Sources * Naughtin, Matthew (2014). ''Ballet Music''. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. {{DEFAULTSORT:Birthday Offering Ballets by Frederick Ashton Ballets to the music of Alexander Glazunov 1956 ballet premieres Ballets created for The Royal Ballet