In Monotones II Frederick Ashton distilled the exquisite tranquility of Erik Satie’s Trois Gymnopédies. Ashton displayed some of his most modernist choreography danced by the Royal Ballet. Monotones II was created first and given its premiere at the Royal Opera House on March 24, 1965 with Vyvyan Lorraine, Anthony Dowell, and Robert Mead. Satie’s delicate music, coupled with Ashton’s beautiful choreography, is wonderfully haunting.
Monotones II – Pas de trois
Royal Ballet Principals Edward Watson, Marianela Nuñez and Nehemiah Kish perform Frederick Ashton’s Monotones II
Edward Watson, Marianela Nuñez and Federico Bonelli rehearse Frederick Ashton’s Monotones II with Anthony Dowell and Lyn Wallis.
Monetones II Rehearsal