Birthday Offering

Birthday Offering is a pièce d'occasion in one scene choreographed by Frederick Ashton to music by Alexander Glazunov, arranged by Robert Irving. The ballet was created in 1956, to celebrate the Royal Ballet's 25th anniversary. The first performance took place on 5 May 1956 at the Royal Opera House, London.

Original cast

 * Margot Fonteyn
 * Beryl Grey
 * Violetta Elvin
 * Nadia Nerina
 * Rowena Jackson
 * Svetlana Beriosova
 * Elaine Fifield
 * Michael Somes
 * Alexander Grant
 * Brian Shaw
 * Philip Chatfield
 * David Blair
 * Desmond Doyle
 * Bryan Ashbridge

Source:

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.


 * 1) Overture: "L'Eté" from The Seasons, Op. 67
 * 2) Valse de concert No. 1, Op. 47
 * 3) Pas d'action from Scènes de ballet, Op. 52, and Coda from Ruses d'amour, Op. 61
 * 4) 1st variation: "Marionettes" from Scènes de ballet
 * 5) 2nd variation: "La Givre" from The Seasons
 * 6) 3rd variation: "La Glace" from The Seasons
 * 7) 4th variation: "La Grêle" from The Seasons
 * 8) 5th variation: "La Neige" from The Seasons
 * 9) 6th variation: "L'Eté" from The Seasons
 * 10) 7th variation: from Ruses d'amour
 * 11) Mazurka, Op. 25 No. 3, (orchestrated by Robert Irving)
 * 12) Pas de deux; "Grand pas des fiancées" from Ruses d'amour
 * 13) Finale: Valse de concert No. 1, reprise