Adam Zero

Infobox Ballet
name = Adam Zero


image_size =
caption =
choreographer = Robert Helpman
composer = Arthur Bliss
based_on =
premiere = 8 April 1946
place = Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
ballet_company = The Sadler’s Well Ballet
characters = The Stage Director The Choreographer (‘Creator and Destroyer’ The Principal Dancer ‘Adam Zero’ The Designer, Wardrobe Mistress, Dresser (‘His fates’) The Ballerina (‘His first love, wife and mistress’) The Understudies (‘His son and daughter’) The Character Dancers (‘His cat and dog’) The Mime (‘His spiritual adviser’)
set designer = Roger Furse
setting =
created for =
genre = Neoclassical ballet
type =

"Adam Zero" is a ballet with music written by the British composer Arthur Bliss, in 1946.

Background

After World War I, Bliss developed an interest in ballet, after seeing the Ballets Russes of Sergei Diaghilev in London. Bliss composed "Adam Zero" for the Sadler's Wells Ballet, in collaboration with Michael Benthall [Bliss A. Adam Zero – A Ballet. Piano Score. Novello, London, 1946.] and Robert Helpman with whom he had seen success with "Miracle in the Gorbals". The first performance at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London on April 6 1946, was conducted by Constant Lambert, [Bliss A, op cit.] and the premiere dancers included the following:
* David Paltenghi (The Stage Director)
* June Brae (The Choreographer / The Ballerina)
* Robert Helpmann [After a few performances Helpman injured himself on stage and had to retire from the role. Burn A. Liner notes to Naxos CD 8.553460.] (Adam Zero)
* Jean Bedells (The Designer)
* Julia Farron (The Wardrobe Mistress)
* Palma Nye (The Dresser)
* Leslie Edwards (The Mime)

Bliss considered Adam Zero his “most varied and exciting ballet score; the music is instinctively theatrical and strongly characterized. [Burn A, op cit.] The orchestra is augmented by cor anglais, saxophone, tuba, two standard percussionists and two dance band percussionists, plus celesta and harp.

ections

* Fanfare Overture: "Allegro Molto" [When the curtain rises and again at the very end, the stage is completely bare with a view of the back stage wall. Bliss A, op cit.]
* The Stage: "Andante sostenuto" [This section is prefaced by a quote from Shakespeare: "All the world’s a stage…" from "As You Like It".]
* 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.

ynopsis

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. [Bliss A, op cit.]

Recordings

* Naxos 8.553460: English Northern Philharmonia; David Lloyd-Jones, conductor (complete ballet). 1995.

References