Constant Lambert (1905-1951) was an English composer, conductor, critic and broadcaster. He was closely associated with British musical life between the wars.

His best-known work is The Rio Grande, a choral and orchestral piece to words by Sacheverell Sitwell. He also wrote ballet scores, orchestral works, chamber music and the book Music Ho!.

Lambert’s music is rhythmically alive, cosmopolitan and sharply characterised, drawing on modern stage and concert idioms with considerable polish.

As music director of the Vic-Wells Ballet, he helped shape British ballet at a crucial moment. His output is small, but full of intelligence, colour and theatrical confidence.