Bliss and Dance

Bliss and Dance explores the four major ballets of composer Sir Arthur Bliss (1891–1975) who was at the centre of British musical life for over 50 years. Drawn to finding expression for drama and human emotion, Bliss composed an impressive range of instrumental, choral, opera, film and highly acclaimed ballet scores. He collaborated with pioneering choreographers De Valois and Helpmann on works for Sadler’s Wells Ballet between 1937 and 1946, and with Lew Christensen for San Francisco Ballet in 1958. In twelve richly illustrated chapters, music and dance specialists delve into the artistic, cultural and socio-political context, creation and performance across several generations of these works, asking what they reveal about his story and the art dance then and now.