Frederick Ashton's Scène d'amour: A look back in time

News & Stories 19 Jan 2026

News Story

Sir Frederick Ashton’s Scène d'amour pas de deux is the subject of our 2026 masterclass – Ashton Rediscovered: Scène d'amour – in partnership with The Frederick Ashton Foundation. 

Originally created for Margot Fonteyn and Michael Somes in 1959, the pas de deux uses music from the score of Raymonda. At the time, Ashton was considering creating his own full-length version of Raymonda, but in the end this project didn't come to fruition.

In honour of the event, we are sharing some exclusive photos of Fonteyn and Somes when they performed it in 1959.

Image gallery

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Margot Fonteyn and Michael Somes in Scène d'amour

© 1959 Credit : Roger Wood

Margot Fonteyn in Scène d'amour

© 1959 Credit : Roger Wood

Margot Fonteyn in Scène d'amour

© 1959 Credit : Roger Wood

Margot Fonteyn in Scène d'amour

© 1959 Credit : Roger Wood

Margot Fonteyn in Scène d'amour

© 1959 Credit : Roger Wood

Find out more about our Ashton Masterclass

  1. WATCH: Birthday Offering Masterclass Part 1

  2. WATCH: Samara Downs on reconstructing Frederick Ashton's Scène d'amour

  3. WATCH: Amelia Thompson performs one of the Act I Courtesan solos from Swan Lake

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  5. The story of The Nutcracker

  6. Swan Lake: the story behind Tchaikovsky's 'undanceable' score

  7. Creative Pathways: opportunities of a lifetime

  8. WATCH: Swan Lake from above

  9. Pointe Shoe Appeal: Help us reach our target

  10. World Ballet Pianists Day 2026

  11. Celebrating 100 years of The Royal Ballet School

  12. WATCH: Sofia Liñares rehearses the Sugar Plum Fairy solo

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