BALLET SEASON ENDS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 59, 25 March 1937, Page 9

BALLET SEASON ENDS

Remarkable Performance of "Les Presages" LAST NIGHT'S TRIUMPH Hastings farewell ed Colonel 6e Basil's Monte Carlo Russian Ballet Company last night xauch as it had weleomed them — -with prohably the warmest enthusiasm accorded a txavelling company for many years. No wonder. A notable performance of ' the symphonic ballet "fTes Presages" (Destiny) made the programme and the season memorable, rich though the opening night Js performances had been both in experience of a ndw art form and in artistic presentation. "Les Presages" ranks jj.mfnig the greatest ballets, and, though the first-night audience may have been entranced by the poesy of "Les Sylphides ' ' and impressed with the savagery--of "Scheherezade," it xemained for last -night 's performance of "Les Presages" .to reveal ballet in its greatest aspect. ."Les Presages," furious at times, and always uiirelenting, interprets the haunting melodies and the rousing storms of Tschaikowsky 'a Fifth Symphony • as the unremitting struggle of man against destiny. Vividly coloured and danced at whirlwind pace, it depicts in four parts desires and temptations," passion, frivolity and finally the frenzy of war and of triumph. "Les Presages," by Massine, is a colourful illustration of the effort to xepresent abstract ideas through the interpretative medium of the ballet. The representation of passion, with the magnificent dancing of Helene Kirsova and Igor Yousskevitch as Passion and the Hero respectively, reached great heights. Dominating the whole acene, and later the final scene, wai . the f antastie, menacing figure, ghastly and.mocking in green, of Leon Woizikowsky as Fate. From the third scene, Frivolity, with Sonia Woizikowsky as the personification of the subjeet, the ballet moved to the tempestuous elimax, the anger of wa'r and finally the celebration of the conquest of the evil spirit of war. The passionate tempo, from opening to climax, was brilliaiitly danced by the following members of the company; Passion, Helene Kirsova; Frivolity, Sonia Woizikowsky; Action, Nina Youchkeviteh; Fate, Leon Woizikowsky; the Hero, Igor Yousskevitch. It is a remarkable work, and it was remarkably presented, "Les Presages," more than any of the other ballets presented in Hastings, is an example of the blending of the many elements of the theatre in the interpretative ballet: the orchestral storms supplement the whirlwind and passion of the dance, the background of stage scenery provides atmosphere for the 'fheifie, the; bbstumihg becomes* the cka'racters, and the lighting deepens their significance. Fate in green was an adequate representation- of menace, but the deep green of the spotlight added mockery and loathsomeness to menace. It was a pity that the ballet was interrupted by so frequent applause. The house seemed to think it conventional to appland every exit; that drowned the music and interrupted the continuity of each scene. Michael Fokine 's "Carnaval," set to the inusic of Schumann, opened the programme." Care-freedom is the keynote of this piece. It contrasts in form with "Les Presages" in that' its scenes represent no real etory. The characters are the poor, thwarted Pi.errot, the mischievous Harlequin, and. the fickle Columbine, and the programme note, in explanation of the ballet, says: "Pierrot pursues Butterfly, Harlequin and Columbine make sport of poor Pantalon, till the Philistines, spoilsports, appear on the scene. But they ara soon infected by the general gaiety and join in the dance. "It is difficult ballet to perform, but the grace and skill of the principals — ^Helene Kirsova as Columbine, Igor Yousskevitch as Harlequin jmd Serg Unger as Pantalon — gave it gaiety and comedy and a stimulating freshness. "La Boutique Fantastique" (The Fantastic Toy Shop) was the last ballet of the programme. It is delightful comedy, telling howfl after performing before would-be purchasers, the toys come to life and send the customers none too gently oflr the premises. The big zange of toys demands as big a range of .dances, and the assortment includes a Cossack dance led by Yalentin Froman and Tamara Tchinarova, a tarantella by Nina Baieveka and Thadee Slavinsky, a can-can by Sonia and Iieon Woizikowsky, and a dance by two "poodles," Vanda Grossen and Miles Bistic'. The dancing throughout was spectacular and the comedy splendid. The choreography is *by Massine and the music for the ballet, by Bossiui, is orchestrate.d by Bespighi. All three ballets were conducted last night by Mr Ivan Clayton, whose work, as'for "Sylphides" on -the opening night, was a big factor in the suecess of the company. From Hastings the company goes to Wellington.