The ROH Live The Dream Symphonic Variations Marguerite and Armand

The Dream Frederick Ashtons delightful interpretation of Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream is a classic of The Royal Ballets repertory Symphonic Variations Ashton was inspired to create a ballet on the four seasons but as he began to choreograph he refined and purified until the ballet shook off its original meaning emerging as an abstract celebration of movement and physicality Marguerite and Armand Marguerite a Parisian courtesan lies on her deathbed She recalls her tragic love affair with Armand in a series of feverish flashbacks