Sir Arthur Bliss, Master of the Queen’s Music from 1953, was one of the leading British composers of his generation. The sparkling Mêlée Fantasque (1921), which the composer considered to be his first ballet score, shows the influence of Stravinsky and Dyagilev’s Ballets Russes. Checkmate (1937), a collaboration with the great choreographer, Ninette de Valois, is a masterpiece of English ballet, full of striking ideas and colourful effects. This disc offers a rare opportunity to hear the complete ballet, which remains in the repertoire to this day.