Constant Lambert’s youth was plagued by illness, including a double mastoid which left him deaf in one ear. Despite this disability, he always showed an aptitude for music. He attended Christ's Hospital School, which his parents had chosen as it was supportive of the Arts.
Lambert’s first foray into ballet was a commission from Serge Diaghilev. But he was dismayed when Diaghilev rearranged his music and changed the design of the set, and wasn’t interested in working with the Ballets Russes again.
Later, after Diaghilev died, Lambert devoted himself to ballet, running himself ragged as music director of the Sadler’s Wells Ballet. Murray Khouri suggests that Lambert’s level of engagement in the ballet company prevented him from reaching his potential as a composer.
Constant Lambert died at the age of 45 after years of heavy drinking, diabetes and pneumonia.
Music Details:
LAMBERT: The Rio Grande – Sally Burgess (mezzo), Jack Gibbons (pno), English Northern Philharmonia/ David Lloyd-Jones (Hyperion 66565)
MEYER: Smilin' Joe – The Plantation Orchestra (Parlophone PMC 7150)
LAMBERT: Burlesca from Romeo and Juliet - English CO/ Norman Del Ma (Lyrita SRCD 215)
LAMBERT: Prelude from Pomona - English CO/ Norman Del Ma (Lyrita SRCD 215)
LAMBERT: The Long-Departed Lover, from Poems of Li Po – Philip Langridge (ten), Nash Ensemble/ Lionel Friend (Hyperion CDA 66754)
LAMBERT: The Rio Grande – Sally Burgess (mezzo), Jack Gibbons (pno), English Northern Philharmonia/ David Lloyd-Jones (Hyperion 66565)
LAMBERT: Piano Sonata, mvt 2 - Mark Bebbington (pno) (Somm SOMMCD 062)
LAMBERT: Concerto for pno and Nine players - Nash Ensemble/ Lionel Friend (Hyperion CDA 66754)
LAMBERT: Sword Dance from Teresias – English Northern Phil/ David Lloyd-Jones (Hyperion CDA 67049)
