The Sanguine Fan

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The Sanguine Fan is a single-act ballet written by Sir Edward Elgar in 1917. It was one of the pieces he composed to raise money for wartime charities, having been asked by close friend and confidante Lady Alice Stuart-Wortley to write it.

The theme of the ballet was inspired by a scene depicting Pan and Echo that a local artist had drawn in sanguine on a fan, although the title itself is incidental to the theme. The first performance was held at the Chelsea Palace Theatre, London on 20 March of that year, conducted by the composer. Afterwards he added a further piece, a shepherd's dance, which received its premiere at a second charity performance in May. The piece did not find great favour with the public until rediscovered by the conductor Sir Adrian Boult in the 1960s, it also being the subject of his final performance.