Constant Lambert

Constant Lambert, born on August twenty-third, nineteen oh five, was a distinguished British composer, conductor, and author whose influence extended deeply into the world of ballet and music. As the founding music director of the Royal Ballet, he played a pivotal role alongside Dame Ninette de Valois and Sir Frederick Ashton in establishing English ballet as a significant artistic movement.

Despite his extensive commitments to ballet and conducting, which often limited his compositional output, Lambert created several notable works. Among these, 'The Rio Grande' for chorus, orchestra, and piano soloist gained widespread acclaim in the nineteen twenties and continues to be performed regularly. His jazz-influenced Piano Concerto, composed in nineteen thirty-one, and major ballet scores such as 'Horoscope' from nineteen thirty-seven and the choral masque 'Summer's Last Will and Testament' from nineteen thirty-six, are also significant contributions to his oeuvre.

Beyond his musical endeavors, Lambert had a keen interest in the arts, as evidenced by his critical study 'Music Ho!' published in nineteen thirty-four, which contextualizes music within the broader spectrum of artistic expression. His social circle included notable figures such as John Maynard Keynes, Anthony Powell, and the Sitwells, with Keynes describing Lambert as perhaps the most brilliant man he had ever encountered. To de Valois, he was the greatest ballet conductor and advisor in the country, while composer Denis ApIvor regarded him as one of the most entertaining personalities in the musical world.