''Adam Zero'' is a ballet with music composed by
Arthur Bliss and choreographed by
Robert Helpmann in 1946.
Background
After
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, Bliss developed an interest in ballet after seeing the
Ballets Russes
The Ballets Russes () was an itinerant ballet company begun in Paris that performed between 1909 and 1929 throughout Europe and on tours to North and South America. The company never performed in Russia, where the Russian Revolution, Revolution ...
of
Sergei Diaghilev
Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev ( ; rus, Серге́й Па́влович Дя́гилев, , sʲɪrˈɡʲej ˈpavləvʲɪdʑ ˈdʲæɡʲɪlʲɪf; 19 August 1929), also known as Serge Diaghilev, was a Russian art critic, patron, ballet impresario an ...
in London. Bliss composed ''Adam Zero'' for the Sadler's Wells Ballet, in collaboration with
Michael Benthall and Robert Helpmann, with whom he had seen success with ''
Miracle in the Gorbals''. The first performance at the
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House (ROH) is a theatre in Covent Garden, central London. The building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. The ROH is the main home of The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet, and the Orch ...
, Covent Garden in London on 6 April 1946 was conducted by
Constant Lambert.
[Bliss A. ''Adam Zero – A Ballet. Piano Score.'' Novello, London, 1946.] The premiere dancers included the following:
*
David Paltenghi (The Stage Director)
*
June Brae (The Choreographer / The Ballerina)
*
Robert Helpmann (Adam Zero)
*
Jean Bedells (The Designer)
*
Julia Farron (The Wardrobe Mistress)
*
Gillian Lynne (The Daughter)
*
Palma Nye (The Dresser)
*
Leslie Edwards (The Mime)
*
Gordon Hamilton (The Dog)
Bliss considered ''Adam Zero'' his "most varied and exciting ballet score; the music is instinctively theatrical and strongly characterized." The orchestra is augmented by cor anglais, saxophone, tuba, two standard percussionists and two dance band percussionists, plus celesta and harp.
It was revived as a ballet with choreography by Sergei Vanaev and conducted by Marc Niemann at the
Stadttheater Bremerhaven
The Stadttheater Bremerhaven (Bremerhaven municipal theatre) is a theatre in Bremerhaven, Germany. Founded in 1867, it serves three genres: opera and other musical theatre, spoken plays, and dance. A theatre built on the present site in 1911 was la ...
in 2016.
Sections
* Fanfare Overture: ''Allegro Molto''
* The Stage: ''Andante sostenuto''
[This section is prefaced by a quote from Shakespeare: "All the world’s a stage..." from '']As You Like It
''As You Like It'' is a pastoral Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wil ...
''.
* Birth of Adam: ''Molto sostenuto''
* Adam’s Fates: ''Allegro moderato''
* Dance of Spring: ''Allegro spirito''
* Awakening of Love: ''Andante grazioso''
* Bridal Ceremony: ''Moderato ma tranquillo''
* Adam Achieves Power: ''Allegro spiritoso''
* Re-entry of Adam’s Fates: ''Allegro moderato''
* Dance of Summer: ''Allegro maestoso''
* Approach of Autumn: ''Larghetto''
* Night Club Scene: ''Moderato''
* Destruction of Adam’s World: ''Allegro molto''
* Approach of Winter: ''Andantino''
* Dance with Death: ''Largo maestoso''
* Finale – the stage is reset for the next life-cycle: ''Allegro moderato''
The complete ballet runs for around 40 minutes.
Synopsis
The ballet is an allegory of the cycle of man’s life; the world in which he lives is represented by a stage on which a ballet is being created: Adam is cast as the principal dancer, Omnipotence is represented by the Stage Director and Adam’s Fates by the Designer, Wardrobe Mistress and Dresser.
Adam falls in love, marries, and achieves power, but his triumph is brief; his world crumbles about him, he is stripped of his glory, and a new generation (Understudy) takes his place. He seeks distraction in dissipation but everyone deserts him and he is left alone to face Death.
Recordings
* Naxos 8.553460:
English Northern Philharmonia;
David Lloyd-Jones, conductor (complete ballet). 1995.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adam Zero
Ballets by Robert Helpmann
Ballets by Arthur Bliss
1946 ballets