Leader, J. Mouland Begbie
Conductor, Ian Whyte
Bliss's ballet Checkmate was first produced in Paris in June 1937 by the Vic-Wells Ballet , under Constant Lambert, and they gave the first performance in England at Newcastle in September, 1937.
The story is based on the idea of a game of chess between Love and Death. Love is Red, and Death Black. The two items to be heard this evening are taken from a concert suite, which Bliss later arranged from the ballet music. In the ballet the Black Queen plays the rôle of femme fatale and at the end is left in possession of the board. Love has been conquered by Death.