Landmarks: Unmissable Ashton brings together three landmark works by Frederick Ashton: Les Rendezvous, Symphonic Variations, and Daphnis and Chloë.

Spanning three decades, the programme showcases Ashton’s signature blend of musicality, elegance, and expressive depth—offering a vivid portrait of one of ballet’s greatest masters.

Landmarks: Unmissable Ashton celebrates three milestone works by Frederick Ashton, the Founder Choreographer whose vision shaped the identity of British ballet in the 20th century. Spanning three decades of creativity, this programme reveals the evolution of Ashton’s distinctive style—marked by musical sensitivity, refined lyricism, and an unparalleled sense of elegance.

The evening brings together Les Rendezvous, Symphonic Variations, and Daphnis and Chloë—three works that stand as landmarks in his choreographic legacy. From the youthful charm and wit of Les Rendezvous to the pure, abstract beauty of Symphonic Variations, and the lush, expressive storytelling of Daphnis and Chloë, the programme showcases Ashton’s extraordinary range.

Together, these ballets offer a journey through shifting moods and aesthetics, highlighting Ashton’s deep connection to music and his ability to create movement that is both technically intricate and emotionally resonant. Landmarks: Unmissable Ashton is a tribute to a choreographer whose artistry continues to define and inspire the language of classical ballet.

Symphonic Variations (1946) by Frederick Ashton is a landmark of “pure dance,” created in the post-war period.

Serene and elegantly structured, the ballet achieves a perfect harmony between movement and music, and remains a timeless tour de force of classical choreography.

Symphonic Variations (1946) stands as one of the defining achievements of Frederick Ashton, created in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. Conceived as a celebration of renewal and artistic clarity, the ballet embodies Ashton’s vision of “pure dance,” free from narrative and focused entirely on the relationship between movement and music.

Set to César Franck’s luminous score, the choreography unfolds with serene balance and architectural precision. Six dancers move in harmonious patterns, their lines interweaving with a sense of calm inevitability, creating a living expression of musical form. The work’s restrained elegance and emotional poise reflect both the fragility and the hope of its historical moment.

With its seamless fusion of musicality and movement, Symphonic Variations remains a radiant testament to Ashton’s craftsmanship—an enduring tour de force that continues to captivate audiences with its timeless purity and quiet intensity.

Daphnis and Chloë by Frederick Ashton is a lyrical and atmospheric ballet inspired by an ancient pastoral love story.

Set to music by Maurice Ravel, the work blends expressive choreography with rich musical colour, capturing the innocence and passion of young love.

Daphnis and Chloë by Frederick Ashton is a richly evocative work that transforms an ancient pastoral tale into a sensuous and atmospheric ballet. Drawing on the story of two young lovers in an idyllic landscape, Ashton shapes a choreography of fluid lyricism and sculptural beauty, capturing both the innocence of first love and the awakening of desire.

Set to the radiant and expansive score by Maurice Ravel, the ballet unfolds in a series of sweeping, impressionistic scenes. Ashton responds to the music’s shifting colours with movement that is both intricate and expressive, blending classical technique with a softer, more organic physicality. The result is a world of luminous textures, where dance, music, and atmosphere merge seamlessly.

Balancing narrative suggestion with abstract beauty, Daphnis and Chloë reveals Ashton’s mastery of mood and musicality. It stands as a testament to his ability to create works that are at once intimate and expansive, rooted in classical tradition yet alive with poetic imagination.