His most successful early works include The Hollow Men (1939; rev. 1946),Music and Letters, Vol. 32, No. 3 (July, 1951), pp. 288-89 and several ballets. A Mirror for Witches (1951), based on the book by Esther Forbes with choreography by Andrée Howard and set designs by Norman Adams, was premiered on 4 March 1952 with the Sadler's Wells Ballet at the Royal Opera House. It was followed in 1953 by Blood Wedding, choreographed by Alfred Rodrigues, designs by Isabel Lambert. This Lorca-inspired work achieved international success, with staged productions from Turkey to Chile.Obituary by Martin Anderson It led to the commissioning by Sadler's Wells of the opera Yerma (1955–59).Marrington, Mark. 'Denis ApIvor and His Contribution to British Opera and Ballet', in The Musical Times, Volume 146, No. 1891 (Summer, 2005), pp. 85-96 When this was shelved as being too difficult, William Glock asked Eugene Goossens to conduct the BBC Symphony Orchestra and chorus in a broadcast concert performance in 1961.Rosen, Carole. The Goossens: A Musical Century (1993) p.385-6Radio Times, Issue 1988, 16 December, 1961 Glock also commissioned the televised ballet Corporal Jan in 1968.Radio Times, Issue 2327, 15th June 1968
