Checkmate: Concert Suite (1937)

I. Prologue: The Players
II. Dance of the Four Knights
III. Entry of the Black Queen
IV. The Red Knight's Mazurka —
V.  Ceremony of the Red Bishops —
VI. Finale: Checkmate

Checkmate was written at the request of the Sadler's Wells Ballet for their visit to Paris in 1937. Bliss chose the game of chess as the subject for his ballet and wrote his own scenario. It was choreographed by Dame Ninette de Valois who knew nothing about chess so Bliss had to explain the rules and show the characteristic moves of the pieces. In the original castlist it is interesting to note such names as Frederick Ashton, Robert Helpmann and Margot Fonteyn. The conductor was Constant Lambert.