Walton’s only original ballet score, The Quest, is based on Spenser’s allegorical poem The Faerie Queene. Presenting the conflict between good and evil, it was intended to boost morale during the Second World War. This is the first recording which uses Walton’s own original orchestration. Written for small orchestra, Siesta is clearly derived from the young Walton’s devotion to Southern Italy. He revised it in 1962 and retained a soft spot for it until the end of his life. Walton’s orchestrations of movements by J.S. Bach were commissioned in 1940 by the Vic-Wells Ballet (shortly to become the Sadler’s Wells Ballet), for the ballet The Wise Virgins, choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton.