PAVLOVA'S FAREWELL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1915, 25 November 1913, Page 2

PAVLOVA'S FAREWELL.

Maelaiue Pavlova, M. Novikoff, and this company of Russian dancers, who ate to tour in tlio United States and possibly Australasia, gave a farewell matinee at tho London Opera House today, writes a London correspondent of Oatobar Ift Tho regret of Londoners at ovoi'i tho temporary loss of so popular a favourite was shown by. tho extraordinary enthusiasm that " prevailed. Every seat in the house had been sold in advance, and queues for the amphitheatre and gallery had begun to form at eleven for a performance that did not begin, till a quarter to three. From first to last the whole performance went with the swing and joyousness of a revel, in which the audience seemed to bo as much a part as tho dancers themselves. The first section, of the triple programmo consisted of a ballot adaptation of "Tho Magic Flute." Tho second part, entitled "Una Soiree de Chopin,"- was a suite of polonaises, mazurkas, and valses, tho most familiar Chopin dances being, interspersed with nocturnes and preludes. Itt tho slowmoving measures to prelude and noe*turno, Madame Pavlova gave her most charming renderings, producing sis a dainty figure before Pasetti's setting of i dark cypresses the'effect of a Watteau or a Fragonard. Mien for the last part we had an . Oriental fantasy designed by Bakst, and '.arranged to the music of various Russian composers. The applause, which was enthusiastic for tor adagio with M. Novikoff, rose almost to emotion at the coda finale. As Madame Pavlova came before the curtain to curtsey ■ with I daintiness and obvious delight at her triumph, it occurred to some happy-, minded person in the gallery to throw her his buttonhole flower. In a moment carnations, roses, and violets were raining to tho stage from all parts of the house. She picked up a couple of them as she curtseyed from the curtain, and left in exchange the impression that London's farewell would not bo tie least of her pleasant memories, 1

Mrs. James Hannali is interesting herself m devising tho colour schemes to connection with the dresseß to bo worn in "Tho Geisha" next week. Her iu Ming artistic taste, jts demonstrated f' I ®, recent Historical . Pageant, should be of service to the Amateur Operatic Society.