August 21 - Constant Lambert, composer, 45 (pneumonia and undiagnosed diabetes)

During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Fonteyn had a long relationship with composer Constant Lambert.

In 1951 he was chosen by Constant Lambert to play the difficult piano part in the premiere of his final ballet Tiresias.

Constant Lambert hailed him as "one of the greatest song-writers that music has ever known", a view echoed by Copley.

This role was filled by Constant Lambert, the brilliant but erratic composer-conductor-critic who served as the company's musical director.

Constant Lambert, one of the bright young things of the 1920s, found it as dull as "a cow looking over a gate."

Constant Lambert predicted this development accurately 56 years ago in his eccentric but perceptive little book, "Music Ho!

This, along with a general resurgence of interest in Constant Lambert's music, has led to the work being reexamined, and performances are starting to take place.

She then entered into a tumultuous, passionate and painful affair with the brilliant, exasperating Constant Lambert.

When the ballet was eventually produced, the music was orchestrated for a small orchestra by Constant Lambert.