ORCHESTRA HELD INADEQUATE
Ballerina Condemns Performance AUCKLAND PROGRAMME CHANGED (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 11. Rowena Jackson, the Ndw Zealandborn Sadler’s Wells ballerina, has refused to dance again in “Les Sylphides” in the Auckland Festival of Arts. Her reason, she said tonight, was that the orchestra at Her Majesty’s Theatre was “so bad—so unrehearsed.” Bryan Ashbridge, Miss Jackson’s Sadler's Wells partner, has also refused to dance in the ballet. As a result, a performance of “Les Sylphides” scheduled for tonight was cancelled, and “Swan Lake” was staged instead. This procedure will be followed again tomorrow night. At Thursday night’s performance of “Les Sylphides” the public, critics, and danders alike were shocked by the playing of the Auckland Radio and Concert Orchestra. The “New Zealand Herald’s” critic wrote: “Of the orchestral accompaniment for ‘Les Sylphides,’ the less said the better.” Referring tonight to what occurred after Thursday’s performance. Miss Jackson said: “I refused to dance with the orchestra again. So did Mr Ashbridge. It was an insult to try to dance to their music.” • Miss Jackson sa4d she did not blame Mr Warwick Braithwaite, the orchestra’s guest conductor. “The music for ‘Les Sylphides’ arrived late,” she said. “It was difficult to procure in London, and it had to be orchestrated here. The orchestra did not have much time for rehearsal. It is really not their fault. Also, they are not full-time musicians.” The orchestra had been better rehearsed in “Swan Lake,”'so it was decided to stage this ballet instead, said Miss Jackson. “It is unfortunate for all concerned,” she added. “Music can ruin ballet.” Miss Jackson said that, as the public had paid to book seats for “Les Sylphides,” they should be told tfce reason for the change of programme. Mr Braithwaite said he had no comment to make.
Mr Julius Hogben. chairman of the Auckland Festival Society executive, said the reasons were, “aesthetic and practical.” He declined to amplify his statement.
A statement issued by Mr Felix Millar, leader of the orchestra, blamed a poorly-prepared musical score, bad lighting, and inadequate time for rehearsals for lapses by the orchestra.
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Press, Volume XC, Issue 27374, 12 June 1954, Page 6
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350ORCHESTRA HELD INADEQUATE Press, Volume XC, Issue 27374, 12 June 1954, Page 6
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