42, by Malcolm Arnold was written as the official coronation ballet in 1953, commissioned by the Sadler's Wells Ballet in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, the ballet company's musical adviser Humphrey Searle having recommended Arnold for the job.
It was first performed by the Sadler's Wells Ballet on Coronation night 2 June 1953 at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, with original scenery and costumes by Oliver Messel.
To celebrate the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth the ballet was revived in 2006.
Apart from the Entree and the Queen of the Air, much of Ashton's original choreography was lost during the years, so new choreography was created for three of the sequences based on surviving material.
The composer extracted a 17-minute concert suite, Op.