The Metropolitan Ballet 1947-1949 was one of a number of touring dance companies founded in Britain following the 1939-45 War. Privately funded by Cecilia Blatch, the wife of a solicitor in Lymington, Hampshire, who was described on the programmes as ‘secretary’ and later ‘director-general’. She claimed to have spent £300,000 on it in two and a half years. It began by combining two small companies in January 1947: Letty Littlewood’s Anglo-Russian Ballet and Leon Hepner’s Fortune Ballet both of which had begun operating under the auspices of ENSA. Hepner brough Victor Gsovsky to London who in turn introduced stars including Colette Marchand, Serge Perrault and Henry Danton to the company. He remained for the first season after which the make-up of the company changed but still included rising international star dancers among them Svetlana Beriosova, Sonia Arova, , and Danes Paul [Poul] Gnatt, Erik Bruhn, and Frank Schaufuss were added to bring quality and glamour. The company introduced John Lanchbery to ballet and the critic (later editor of Dance and Dancers) Peter Williams contributed to the designs and synopses. In addition to Gsovsky, ballet masters included Celia Franca and Nicholas Beriosoff and artistic direction for much of its existence was by George Kirsta. The first performance by the Metropolitan Ballet was at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne on 27 January 1947, the last was the television screening of Salome in December 1949.
The repertoire of the Metropolitan Ballet included a number of ballets danced by the Anglo Russian and Fortune companies including Dances of Galanta and Pygmalion by Victor Gsovsky; Picnic and Chaucer-based The Marchaund’s Tale by Letty Littlewood;and new creations including Design for Strings by John Taras; Fanciulla della Rose (The Innocent of the Roses) and The Lovers’ Gallery by Frank Staff; Ballamento by Andrée Howard as well as stagings of established ballets Les Sylphides, Polovtsian dances from Prince Igor, Le Spectre de la rose and single acts from Swan Lake and Coppélia. The company was seen on BBC TV and undertook European touring with assistance from the British Council indeed the British Council stepped in to briefly rescue the company after the Blatch’s funding had run out after the prestigious performances with Léonide Massine, Alexandra Danilova and Frederic Franklin at the Empress Hall in summer 1949. It was nevertheless force to close in December 1949.
For a brief history of the Metropolitan Ballet see John Percival ‘Backward Glances: The Metropolitan Ballet’ Dance and Dancers February 1960 pp.20-22, 34 and March 1960 and Kathrine Sorley Walker The Metropolitan Ballet Dance Now Winter 1998-9 pp.29-39 and Spring 1999 pp.23-30
The archive consists of photographs, correspondence and press cuttings, as well as a few miscellaneous items such as one design, some music, programmes and notes.
Gift of Harriet Kimbell, 2003
The collection contains the surviving company records held by Cecilia Blatch's family. Harriet Kimbell and her aunt donated the collection to the Department of Theatre and Performance in 2003.
This collection was appraised in line with the collection management policy.
No further accurals expected.
The collection has been arranged in to the following series, which retain the original order as accurately as possible:
This archive collection is available for consultation in the V&A Blythe House Archive and Library Study Room by appointment only. Full details of access arrangements may be found here:
Access to some of the material may be restricted. These are noted in the catalogue where relevant.
Information on copying and commercial reproduction may be found here:
Description compiled by Joanna Norledge, Department of Theatre and Performance Assistant Archivist, January 2012.
Photograph prints and large display photographs of Metropolitan Ballet productions and dancers including Svetlana Beriosova, Beryl Grey, Sonia Arova, Nicolas Beriosov, Paul Gnatt, Colette Marchand, Serge Perrault and Frank Staff. Also includes photographs of Cecilia Blatch and the company on tour and off stage.
This series has been arranged in one run but photographs and large display photographs have been split. Photographs of productions have been arranged alphabetically and then miscellaneous productions and general company photographs follow on. Photographs of named dancers have been arranged by surname.
Black and white photographs and display photographs.
Photograph depicting Metropolitan Ballet dancers in a production of <i>Ballamento</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photographs depicting dancers Svetlana Beriosova, Roland Sheridan, Freddie Franklin, Judy Gold, Terry Heyworth, Geoffry Webb, Léonide Massine and other Metropolitan Ballet dancers in a production of <i>Le Beau Danube</i> at Empress Hall in 1949.
Black and white photographs
Photographs depicting David Adams, Svetlana Beriosova, Paul Gnatt, Sonia Arova, Cewa Franca and other Metropolitan Ballet dancers in a production of <i>Design With Strings</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photographs depicting Michael Holme and other Metropolitan Ballet dancers in a production of <i>Dances of Galanta</i> with music by Zoltan Kodaly, choreographed by Victor Csovsky and costumes and decor by George Kirsta.
Black and white photographs
Photographs depicting dancers Aart Verstegen, Svetlana Beriosova and other Metropolitan Ballet dancers in a production of <i>Fanciulla delle Rose</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photographs depicting dancers Delysia Blake, Janine St Clere, Sonia Arova and other Metropolitan Ballet dancers in a production of <i>The Lover's Gallery</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photographs depicting dancers Sonia Avora, Paul Gralt, Delysia Blake and other Metropolitan Ballet dancers in a production of <i>Prince Igor</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photographs depicting dancer Nicolas Beriosoff and other Metropolitan Ballet dancers in a production of <i>Pygmalion</i> choreographed by Victor Csovsky.
Black and white photographs
Photographs depicting dancers Serge Perrault and Colette Marchand in a production of <i>Romeo and Juliet</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photographs depicting dancers Erik Bruhn and Ursula Hewlett in a production of <i>Le Spectre de la rose</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photographs depicting dancers Paul Gnatt, Svetlana Berisova and other Metropolitan Ballet dancers in a production of <i>Swan Lake</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photographs depicting dancer Cynthia Allegro and other Metropolitan Ballet dancers in a production of <i>Les Sylphides</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of a BBC broadcast of
Black and white photographs
Photograph of a rehearsal of an unidentified production and two Metropolitan ballet dancers.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of the members of the Metropolitan Ballet company, including Edward Elders, Svetlana Beriosova and Pat Vaugn in rehearsals at Covent Garden and in ballet class.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of members of the Metropolitan Ballet backstage with a costume chest.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of the members of the Metropolitan Ballet company off stage at various unidentified events.
Black and white photographs
Photograph of a pantomime performed at an after-show party at the Scala Theatre, featuring Michael Holmes, Geoffry Webb, Terry Heyworth, Josephine Gordon and Patrica Vaughn.
Black and white photographs
Photographs with contacts by London and Wide World of the re-union party for Metropolitan Ballet hosted by Mr & Mrs Blatch at the Law Society Hall in July 1962 included among the guests were dancers Sonia Arova, Svetlana Beriosova, Erik Bruhn; choreographer Andrée Howard, conductor/arranger John Lanchbery, designer Leonard Rosoman, critics Richard Buckle, AV Coton, photographer Duncan Melvin
Black and white photographs.
Photographs of the company on tour in Scandinavia, posing for publicty shots and off-stage images.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of Svetlana Beriosova on stage performing various roles, including Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, and studio shots.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of Svetlana Beriosova for a feature in the International News. The images follow her around a typical day in her life.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of Svetlana Beriosova posing in a two piece swimsuit by a pool.
Black and white photographs
Photograph autographed by Beryl Grey, showing her in Act III of <i>Les Lac des Cygnes</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of Cecila Blatch the Director General and Cecil Blatch.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of female dancers including Domini Callaghan in the <i>Bluebird </i>pas de deux, Sonia Arova in <i>Swan Lake</i> and Cynthia Allegro in <i>Les Sylphides</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of male dancers including John Taras, Nicholas Beriosov, Serge Perrault, Frank Schaufuss and Erik Bruhn.
Black and white photographs
Photograph of Sonia Arova and Erik Bruhn.
Black and white photographs
Photograph of Nicolas Beriosov.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of Svetlana Beriosova in various roles.
Black and white photographs
Photograph of Paul Gnatt.
Black and white photographs
Photograph of Colette Marchand.
Black and white photographs
Photograph of Serge Perrault.
Black and white photographs
Photograph of Frank Staff, possibly in <i>Swan Lake</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of John Taras in various roles.
Black and white photographs
Photograph of the<i> Bluebird</i> pas de deux, with Sonia Arova and Erik Bruhn.
Black and white photographs
Photograph of the<i> Dances of Galanta</i> , with Serge Perrault and Colette Marchand.
Black and white photographs
Photographs of the<i> Design with Strings</i>.
Black and white photographs
Photograph of the
Black and white photographs
Photograph of the <i>Lover's Gallery</i> with Erik Bruhn and Celia Franca.
Black and white photographs
Correspondence relating to the Metropolitan Ballet company, including good luck messages for performances and tours, correspondence to Cecilia Blatch from contemporary dance personalities such as Ninette de Valois. Also includes correspondence dating from the late 1980s to 1990 regarding the history of the Metropolitan Ballet and a planned re-union. Other papers include legal documents relating to the establishment of a dance company, a poem about a Metropolitan Ballet performance and notes on the history of the company.
Correspondence is arranged in letters and telegrams and then ordered by date.
Some of these files are closed under the Data Protection Act, 1998. The closures are specified at file level.
Letters of thanks and appreciation for seats at Metropolitan Ballet performances to Cecilia Blatch from Alicia Markova, Ninette de Valois, Erica Walter Wright and Lionel Bradley. Also includes an acceptance letter for an invitation to a party from Peter Lloyd.
Thank you notes to Cecilia Blatch regarding the Metropolitan Ballet tour to Scandinavia. Also includes a welcome note to the company from John Falck, welcoming them to the Muncipal Theatre in Norrköping.
Letter from Peter Wright, Artistic Director of the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet, to Cecilia Blatch reminiscing over the Metropolitan Ballet days.
Contains three letters from Janet Rowson Davis, a researcher and writer on ballet for television, to Cecilia Blatch regarding the history of the Metropolitan Ballet and an article she wrote summarising the history of the company.
The obituary and photocopies of histories of the Metropolitan Ballet referred to in the letters can be found in THM/327/5/3/1 - Press cuttings relating to Metropolitan Ballet and the company's dancers.
This file is closed under the Data Protection Act 1988 until 2071.
Letter from former Metropolitan Ballet dancer Peggy Ingram (neé Ayres) to Cecilia Blatch reminisicing over the Metropolitan Ballet days and encouraging a possible re-union.
This file is closed under the Data Protection Act, 1998 until 2071.
An envelope and a page of autographs from the dancers of the Metropolitan Ballet dedicated to Cecilia Blatch.
A letter reminisicing on the history of the Metropolitan Ballet and the company's achievements in relation to English Ballet, from an unidentified author signed only 'M'.
Telegram wishing the Metropolitan Ballet luck for thier performance at the Scala Theatre, London, from Frederic Franklin.
Telegrams wishing the Metropolitan Ballet good luck for the Scandinvian tour.
Two annotated copies of the 'Memorandum and Articles of Association of British Drama Ballet and Theatrical Association Limited', drawn up in accordance with The Companies Act, 1929, by Moore & Blatch, Solicitors, Lymington. Also includes three un-annotated copies of the document.
Contains a typed poem entitled 'First Night' about the Metropolitan Ballet performance at the Scala Theatre, 3rd June 1948, a note with the name and address of a village balllet teacher, a note with Pat Parkes' (Vaughn) address, a note listing the names of Metropolitan dancers, a hand-written draft of an account of the founding of the Metropolitan Ballet by Cecilia Blatch and a typed version.
Copies of music in manuscript and printed form for the ballet choreographed by John Taras <i>Designs With Strings</i> by Tchaikovsky with music arranged by John Lanchbery. Includes orchestral parts, a conductor's score and a pinao reduction.
Includes the instrumental scores for the 1st violin, violin desk 1, cello, bass, oboe, Flute, 1st clarinet and bass trombone. For the John Taras ballet<i> Designs With Strings</i> by Tchaikovsky, arranged by John Lanchbery.
Manuscript conductor's score for<i> Design With Strings</i>, arranged from the A minor trio by John Lanchbery.
Photographic copy of the piano reduction of <i>Designs With Strings</i>, with some annotation in ink.
A painted design by Leonard Rosoman for the Metropolitan Ballet, probably for a programme cover. It is annotated in pencil on the reverse.
Gouache of card.
Printed or published publicity and marketing materials including annotated programmes, posters and press cuttings.
This series has been arranged in the following series: THM/327/5/1 - Programmes THM/327/5/2 - Poster THM/327/5/3 - Press Cuttings
One annotated programme from a Metropolitan Ballet performance at Devonshire Park Theatre.
According to departmental policy the un-annotated programmes in this collection have been integrated in to the Theatre and Performance core collections.
List of programmes can be found in S:\DEPSHARE\CURATORIAL\Collection Info - Internal\M\METROPOLITAN BALLET.
A hanging poster advertising the Metropolitan Ballet performance of <i>The Blue Danube </i>with Leonide Massine, Alexandra Danilova and Frederick Franklin at the Empress Hall, Earls Court.
One volume of press cuttings relating to Metropolitan Ballet company and press cuttings and articles relating to Janet Rowson Davis research in to the history of the company.
Cuttings and photocopies from newspapers, magazines and publications regarding the Metropolitan Ballet and the company's dancers. Also includes obituries for Erik Bruhn and and Felicity Gray. These cuttings are most likely connected with Janet Rowson Davis' letter in THM/327/2/4.
One bound volume with press cuttings regarding the Metropolitan Ballet stuck to the pages within.
Poor condition, flaking press cutting paper and binding.