5 Facts About Frederick Ashton’s Choreography for Four Saints in Three Acts
- Frederick Ashton choreographed the 1934 opera Four Saints in Three Acts after George Balanchine declined the job.
- Balanchine turned down the offer, leaving the production in need of a choreographer.
- Ashton accepted the role, bringing his distinct style to the opera’s surreal, abstract narrative.
- The production featured an all-Black cast, a rare choice for its time.
- Ashton’s work on Four Saints in Three Acts helped cement his reputation as a leading choreographer.