After the commercial failure of a ballet in this city, one choreographer was told he had made the mistake of being “frivolous about serious people.” For 10 points each:
[10e] Name this city where Ninette de Valois and Frederick Ashton set up the Vic-Wells Ballet. This city’s Covent (“CUV-int”) Garden area is now home to the Royal Ballet and Opera.
ANSWER: London
[10m] In 1939, de Valois staged this ballet, with an altered title in reference to Diaghilev’s 1921 production. At this ballet’s premiere, Carlotta Brianza played the lead role, which in one scene requires standing en pointe on one leg as four suitors in turn take her hand.
ANSWER: The Sleeping Beauty [or Spyashchaya krasavitsa] (The Diaghilev and de Valois productions were called The Sleeping Princess.)
[10h] In 1970, Ashton was replaced as artistic director of the Royal Ballet by this choreographer, who collaborated with Lynn Seymour on darker ballets like The Invitation and Mayerling.
ANSWER: Kenneth MacMillan [or Sir Kenneth MacMillan]
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