Constanza's Lament

Synopsis:

The original French title for this choreographic comedy in one act was Les Femmes de Bonnes Humeur, with a libretto and choreography by Leonide Massine. Based on Carlo Goldoni's play, it tells of a complicated love affair between Constanza and Rinaldo, who scheme and overcome many obstacles resulting from their parents' opposition to their marriage. From this story, Tudor created a simple, though very interesting, solo for Diana Gould called Constanza's Lament. Tudor put together a simple pointe piece, in which Constanza is dressed in a wig and an eighteenth century ballroom dress. The miserable Constanza floats from one part of the stage to the other, seemingly wafting here and there by the body's sobbing thrusts.

There is a film of this ballet in the Rambert archives, so potentially it could be revived.

Ballet Synopsis excerpted with permission from the Ballets of Antony Tudor by Judith Chazin-Bennahum.

Choreography: Antony Tudor.

Music / Composer: Domenico Scarlatti from the Good Humoured Ladies.

First Performance: Mercury Theatre. London Ballet Club. February 4th or 11th, 1932.

First Performance Cast: Diana Gould.

Professional Premiere: Syracuse, NY, Feb 20th, 1976 Syracuse Ballet Theatre.

Notated: 1976 by Murial Topaz (Labanotation).

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