| Birth: | Aug. 23, 1905
London
Greater London, England | | Death: | Aug. 21, 1951
London
Greater London, England | 
Composer, Conductor, Critic. The son of painter George Lambert, he was born in London and studied at the Royal College of Music. At age 20 he became the youngest composer to receive a commission from Diaghilev's Ballet Russes, for the ballet "Romeo and Juliet" (1926), but he so disliked its flippantly chic presentation he threatened to withdraw the score. Ever the publicist, Diaghilev took the disagreement to the press, adding that the impudent young Englishman had "gone mad". Lambert was catapulted into fame with his jazz-influenced cantata "The Rio Grande" (1927), set to a poem by Sacheverell Sitwell; it was first heard over the BBC in 1928 and premiered in concert the following year. He conducted two recordings of it, in 1930 and 1949. His other compositions include a Piano Concerto (1931), the cantata "Summer's Last Will and Testament" (1937), and the ballet "Horoscope" (1938). The latter allegedly reflected his long affair with dancer Margot Fonteyn. In 1931 Lambert co-founded the Vic-Wells Ballet, now England's Royal Ballet, and was its Artistic Director and principal conductor until 1947. His book "Music Ho!" (1934) remains one of the wittiest volumes of music criticism in the English language. Composer William Walton was a lifelong friend, and when he had difficulty completing his First Symphony (1935) he accepted Lambert's suggestion of writing a fugal finale. Lambert died of pneumonia and undiagnosed diabetes complicated by acute alcoholism, two days short of his 46th birthday. His son, rock music producer Kit Lambert (The Who), is buried with him at Brompton Cemetery. In November 2009, a memorial stone for the founders of the Royal Ballet (Lambert, Fonteyn, Ninette de Valois, Frederick Ashton) was dedicated at Westminster Abbey. (bio by: Bobb Edwards)
Search Amazon for Constant Lambert | | | Burial:
Westminster Abbey
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Westminster
Greater London, England
Plot: Poet's Corner, South Transept, near tomb of Handel
*Memorial Site [?] |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: Bobb Edwards
Record added: Apr 13, 2010
Find A Grave Memorial# 51038434 |
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Added by: Anonymous | | |
Cemetery Photo
Added by:
Iola
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I'm sorry you were so ill and left us too soon, Constant. Rest in Peace. See you and your beloved son Kit in Heaven. (I'm sorry that no one has left you any tributes or flowers until I did today)
-
Mary
Added: Oct. 13, 2012 |
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