The Story
In a 19th-century Paris studio, an artist - the Young Man - becomes bored with his lover, the Young Girl. When a Gypsy troupe arrives, his eye is caught by the Gypsy Girl and he is tempted to stray.
Read more… (Contains spoilers)
Background
Frederick Ashton created The Two Pigeons for The Royal Ballet Touring Company in 1961 and it was restaged later that year for the main Company. The score, by André Messager, was composed in 1886 for a ballet at the Paris Opéra, and Ashton worked with John Lanchbery to adapt it for his own version of the story. The inspiration for the score and the ballet was a fable by La Fontaine, but Ashton interpreted the original story in a different way, bringing the focus onto the love between the Young Man and the Young Girl.
The lead roles were created by Lynn Seymour and Donald Britton (although due to an injury, Christopher Gable danced the Young Man in the premiere). The ballet's title is recalled in the bird-like movements of the young lovers' steps, and in the appearance of two real birds on stage to symbolize the young couple's relationship.
Frederick Ashton created more than one hundred works during his lifetime (1904–88). For further information, please visit www.frederickashton.org.uk.
News and features
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Your Reaction: What did you think of The Royal Ballet's Asphodel Meadows / The Two Pigeons?
19 January 2019
The Company's first mixed programme of 2019 brings together works by Scarlett and Ashton.
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Rhapsody / The Two Pigeons to be released on DVD and Blu-Ray
28 January 2016
Release details will be announced in due course.
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Your Reaction: Rhapsody / The Two Pigeons live in cinemas
27 January 2016
What did you think of the live cinema relay of these two Frederick Ashton ballets?
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Watch: Members of the cast and creative team on Rhapsody / The Two Pigeons
26 January 2016
Backstage films from the live relay of Frederick Ashton’s Mixed Programme including rehearsal footage and exclusive interviews.
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Your Reaction: Rhapsody / The Two Pigeons 2016
18 January 2016
What did you think of The Royal Ballet's Mixed Programme of works by Frederick Ashton?
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The Poetry of Ashton: Variety and originality in the work of The Royal Ballet’s Founder Choreographer
30 November 2015
The ballets of Frederick Ashton share an astounding breadth of imagination.