Marguerite and Armand
Cristina Dijmaru as Marguerite in Frederick Ashton's Marguerite and Armand, inspired by Alexandre Dumas fils's tragic love story.
QUICK F A C T S
- ✦ Frederick Ashton created Marguerite and Armand in 1963 specifically for Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev.
✦ The ballet is based on La Dame aux Camélias (The Lady of the Camellias), the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas fils.
✦ Unlike many story ballets, Marguerite and Armand is told in a single act, concentrating the drama into a powerful and emotional performance.
✦ The score is drawn from the music of Franz Liszt, whose romantic piano compositions help shape the ballet's passionate atmosphere.
✦ The ballet remains closely associated with the legendary partnership of Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev, for whom it was originally created.
The camellia, a symbol of beauty, love, and fragile mortality, lies at the heart of the story behind Marguerite and Armand.
S U M M A R Y
Marguerite and Armand is a one-act ballet choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton in 1963 and based on La Dame aux Camélias (The Lady of the Camellias), the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas fils.The story follows the tragic love affair between the beautiful courtesan Marguerite Gautier and the young Armand Duval. Despite their deep affection for one another, social expectations and family pressures force them apart. As Marguerite sacrifices her own happiness for Armand's future, the story moves toward a heartbreaking conclusion that has made it one of ballet's most powerful romantic tragedies.
Marie Duplessis (born Alphonsine Plessis), the Parisian courtesan whose life inspired Marguerite Gautier, heroine of La Dame aux Camélias (The Lady of the Camellias).
Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev arriving at Schiphol Airport in 1968. Frederick Ashton created Marguerite and Armand especially for the celebrated pair, whose artistic partnership became ballet legend.
The ballet was created in 1963 by Sir Frederick Ashton for Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev, one of the most celebrated partnerships in dance history. Ashton crafted the work specifically to showcase their remarkable chemistry and dramatic abilities. The music is drawn from the works of Franz Liszt, whose passionate piano compositions perfectly match the emotional intensity of the story. Unlike many full-length narrative ballets, Marguerite and Armand tells its tale in a single act, concentrating its drama into a series of powerful and intimate scenes.
Today, Marguerite and Armand is remembered as one of Ashton's greatest achievements and a lasting tribute to the partnership of Fonteyn and Nureyev. Although it is performed less frequently than many classical favorites, the ballet remains cherished for its emotional depth, elegant choreography, and unforgettable central roles. More than sixty years after its premiere, it continues to move audiences with its timeless themes of love, sacrifice, and loss.
Alexandre Dumas fils, author of La Dame aux Camélias. His novel inspired Marguerite and Armand, La Traviata, and numerous stage adaptations that helped shape the history of romantic drama in ballet and opera.
E N C O R E
✦ On Today's Stage — Marguerite and Armand is performed less frequently than many full-length classics, but it remains a treasured showcase for dancers with exceptional dramatic and emotional range. Special revivals often celebrate its connection to the Fonteyn–Nureyev partnership.
✦ Iconic Interpreters — Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev created the leading roles in 1963 and remain the ballet's most closely associated performers. Later dancers have continued to explore the work's demanding blend of acting and classical technique.
✦ Legacy — Created specifically for Fonteyn and Nureyev, Marguerite and Armand became one of the defining works of their legendary partnership. Its powerful storytelling, intimate scale, and emotional intensity have secured its place as one of Frederick Ashton's most beloved dramatic ballets.