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Enigma Variations (My Friends Pictured Within)-27 July 1985 Matinee

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Ballet: Performance details

Company: The Royal Ballet
Venue: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
Performance status: Revival
Conductor Ashley Lawrence
Leader Paul Wood
Cast
Edward Elgar (E.D.U.) Derek Rencher
The Lady (C.A.E.)
Elgar's wife 'Whose life was a romantic and delicate inspiration' 		Monica Mason
Hew David Steuart-Powell (H.D.S.-P.)
One of Elgar's chamber-music cronies 		Jonathan Burrows
Richard Baxter Townshend (R.B.T.)
An amiable reedy-voiced eccentric who rode about on a tricycle 		Brian Shaw
William Meath Baker (W.M.B.)
'With a slip of paper in his hand forcibly read out the arrangements for the day and hurriedly left with a bang' 		Garry Grant
Richard P. Arnold (R.P.A.)
Son of Matthew Arnold, a quiet contemplative scholar 		Ross MacGibbon
Isabel Fitton (Ysobel)
Charming and romantic 		Sandra Conley
Arthur Troyte Griffith (Troyte)
A very close friend, outspoken and brusque though 'the boisterous mood is mere banter' 		Anthony Dowell
Winnifred Norbury (W.N.)
'Her gracious personality is sedately shown' 		Tracy Brown
A.J. Jaeger (Nimrod)
This variation recalls a summer evening's talk about Beethoven and, further, reveals the depth of a friendship 		Robert Jude
Dora Penny (Dorabella)
'The movement suggests a dance-like lightness.' An intimate portrait of a gay but pensive girl with an endearing hesitation in her speech 		Wendy Ellis
George Robertson Sinclair (G.R.S.)
Or rather 'his bulldog Dan who fell into the river and barked rejoicing on landing. G.R.S. said "Set that to music." I did; here it is' 		Simon Rice
Basil G. Nevinson (B.G.N.)
'An amateur cello player of distinction - a serious and devoted friend' 		Leslie Edwards
Lady Mary Lygon(***)
'The asterisks take the place of the name of a lady who was, at the time of the composition, on a sea voyage' 		Deirdre Eyden
E.D.U. (Edward Elgar) 'Written at a time when friends were dubious and generally discouraging as to the composer's musical future, this variation is merely to show what he intended to do. References to Alice Elgar and to Nimrod, two great influences on the life and art of the composer, are entirely fitting to the intention of the piece'
Schoolgirl Rebecca Holmes
Country Girl Fiona Brockway
Country Boy Peter Abegglen
Sailor Girl Sara Gallie
Sailor Boy Bruce Sansom
Housekeeper Julie Wood
Gardener Mark Freeman
The Carrier Andrew Ward
Country Woman Franziska Merky
Telegraph Boy Anthony Bourne
The Orchestra of Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet
Event: Number 2 in The Royal Ballet mixed programme 27 July 1985 matinee
Information source: Royal Opera House programme for 27 July 1985 (in Royal Opera House Collections)