Ashton Trust

[Brendan McCarthy]

On Friday night Tony Dyson, to whom Frederick Ashton left Enigma Variations and Monotones, announced the formation of an Ashton Trust, whose membership will consist initially of the owners of the rights to the Ashton ballets. In addition to Tony Dyson, they include Wendy Ellis Somes, Derek Rencher, Phoebe Fonteyn, Anthony Dowell, Alexander Grant and Anthony Russell-Roberts.

This is excellent news - and an admirable tribute to Ashton's memory on the day of his centenary.

[Dale]

This is great news. I always felt the lack of a trust for Ashton was one of the reasons his works were not more prevalent. His works come in all sorts of styles and sizes and really can be done by a wide group of companies. A trust can help promote his works to companies, the way the Balanchine Trust does.

[Leigh Witchel]

Excellent news.

An interesting question is, will more companies be doing Ashton? I think it helped Balanchine's work to be done at more places, even if it wasn't always done perfectly. Tight reins on the legacy has consequences.

[Jane Simpson]

There are lots of interesting questions, I think, and no doubt lots of details to be sorted out. But in principle it looks a good thing!

By the way, Phoebe Fonteyn is the widow of Fonteyn's brother, Felix, and Derek Rencher is the current owner of the works originally left to Brian Shaw.