Margot Fonteyn in 'First Arabesque' (BBC TV, 1937)

Margot Fonteyn filmed very early in her career for television in 'First Arabesque'

Choreography: Sir Frederick Ashton

Music: Claude Debussy (from 'Deux arabesques', for piano)

For BBC Television, Alexandra Palace, London, 20 March 1937

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Margot Fonteyn
• 'First Arabesque'
• Sir Frederick Ashton
• Claude Debussy
• Deux arabesques

[Scottrchrdsn]

Thanks for posting this. Not only was it filmed very early in her career; it was actually filmed very early in the career of television!!

[nickwallacesmith]

@Scottrchrdsn - and remarkable that it survived - lot of early TV was 'of the moment' and not saved for posterity

[nickwallacesmith]

hi hymntonight

the ashton archive (ashtonarchive com ballets 1937) gives the following for the ballet:

'First Arabesque

M Claude Debussy (from Deux arabesques, for piano)

D Margot Fonteyn

FP BBC Television, Alexandra Palace, London, 20 March 1937'

[nickwallacesmith]

hi hymntonight again

i guess the website mis-identified the music - just listened to debussy's '2 arabesques' - and it's not that - the chorography wouldn't fit the debussy music so the soundtracks ok

thanks for the correction, best, nick

[nickwallacesmith]

hi movementispoetry

i try to put things out that are not so readily available elsewhere

glad you're liking what i'm doing

best, nick

[hymntonight]

Nice post ... but the music isn't Debussy's arabesque. I dont know what it is, but I don't think it's even debussy. Maybe she's dancing to Debussy, but that's not what is heard.