a communion between listener and performer … impossible in a great assembly … (which) means the restoration of a large body of music to the private salon or to the church where it originally belonged. With the appropriate setting and a perceptive audience of proportionate size, the work will not only sound, but feel right. Hassall died on a train at Rochester, Kent, on 25 April 1963 after suffering a heart attack whilst running for the train to see his daughter Imogen appear in a Royal Ballet School performance at Covent Garden. He was 51. Selected works and credits The Merry Widow (1955) English translation. (TV) adaptation King's Rhapsody (1955) screenplay for the film adaptation The Dark Avenger, also known as The Warriors (United States) (1955) — lyricist of "Bella Marie" Anna Kraus (1952), librettist for the radio opera by composer Franz Reizenstein Dance Hall (1950) ("You're Only Dreaming") lyricist. Dear Miss Phoebe (1950) lyricist. (Music by Harry Parr Davies) King's Rhapsody (1949) ("Some Day My Heart Will Awake", "Take Your Girl") lyricist. (Music and book by Ivor Novello). Arc de Triomphe (1943) ("Man of My Heart", "Waking Or Sleeping") lyricist. (Music by Ivor Novello). The Dancing Years (1939) ("I Can Give You The Starlight", "Primrose", "Waltz of My Heart", "My Dearest Dear", "My Life Belongs To You") lyricist. (Music and book by Ivor Novello). Crest of the Wave (1937) lyricist. (Music and book by Ivor Novello). The Yellow Iris (1937) lyricist. (Music by Michael Sayer and arranged by Jack Beaver) Christ's Comet: The Story of a Thirty Years' Journey that Began and Ended on the Same Day (1937) playwright. Devil's Dyke, with Compliment and Satire (1936) poet. Poems of Two Years (1935) poet. Careless Rapture (1936) lyricist. (Music by Ivor Novello). Glamorous Night (1935) lyricist (Music by Ivor Novello). Song of Simeon (1959) libretto - Nativity Masque by Sir Malcolm Arnold. The Beatitudes (1961) libretto - Cantata by Arthur Bliss. Mary of Magdala (1962) libretto - Cantata by Arthur Bliss. Troilus and Cressida (1954) libretto / Chaucer-adaptation - Opera by Sir William Walton. Bell Harry And Other Poems (1963) poetry. References External links National Portrait Gallery: Portrait of Christopher Hassall by his sister Joan Hassall Who's Who in Musicals: Christopher Hassall Guide to Musical Theatre: Dear Miss Phoebe Obituary of Roma Beaumont: Primrose in The Dancing Years Bibliography of Christopher Hassall books at Open Library 1912 births 1963 deaths