Beriosova

The original cast order of Fifield, Jackson, Beriosova, Nerina, Elvin, Grey and Fonteyn, did reflect a kind of civil service ranking from junior to senior.

Just for the record, Nerina danced the Fonteyn solo that night, and Fifield, Jackson and Beriosova were on stage with her.

Beriosova and Elvin would have wondered what was put on stage in their names.

Her solo was made for the exquisitely gracious Svetlana Beriosova: in its opening phrase, advancing down a diagonal, she performs an extraordinary alternation of steps.

Wednesday's child, who is "full of woe," is portrayed by Svetlana Beriosova as a studiously mournful, black-clad wraith, pursued by a clutching quartet of mottled, mock-serious snakes.