RUSSIAN BALLET

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page 7

RUSSIAN BALLET

Wellington Season Opens To-day This afternoon at 2 o’clock and this evenins at 8 o’eleok, the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management will present for the first time to playgoers of Wellington Colonel de Basil’s world-famous Monte Carlo Russia Ballet, in two gala performances of the ballets in which they achieved triumphs in Loudon, the Continent. Australia and Auckland. Because to-day is a holiday the box plans will be on view from 9 o’clock this morning at the New Onera House, and tickets for the gallery may be purchased at the Opera House sweet shop. A number of reservations in the ordinary stalls at 5/- each will be available the whole of to-day at the New Opera House. The programme of ballets to be presented to-day and to-night will also be performed during the following three uiglits and at a special holiday matinee ou Monday afternoon, and a complete change will be given on Thursday evening. The popularity of the Russian Ballet in London, New York, and on the Continent, has increased year by year, and that it is proving quite as popular in Australia and New Zealand is borne out by the pheuomeual successes which have been won by Colonel de Basil’s company in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland The opening ballet, “Les Sylphides,” is a romantic reverie with music by Chopin, the principal artists in this ballet being Helene Kirsova, Igor Youchkevitch, Nathalie Branitzki, Ann Skarpa, Irina Bondireva, and Nina Yousskevitch. This ballet will be conducted by Ivan Clayton, of Covent Garden. Following this will be the famous “Scheherazade,” based on the

story from the “Arabian Nights,” the , principal exotic ballet of the repertoire. It is danced to Rimsky-Korsakov’s music. A powerful drama, “Scheherazade” features Leon Woizikowsky, Nina Raievska, Valentin Froman, Valery Schevsky, Thades Slavinsky, Nathalia Branitzka, Tamara Tehinarova, Olga Valeska. and others. This production will be followed by “Aurora’s Wedding,” the outstanding ballet in the company’s repertoire, with music by Tschaikowsky. “Aurora’s Wedding” will introduce the ballerina, Valentina Blinova, one of the foremost dancing stars in Loudon and Paris, who will take the role of premiere danseuse. Her partner will be Valentin Froman. Altogether 70 of the company will take part in this unique ballet, which will be conducted by Jascha Horenstein, recently conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra. Features of each of the ballets are the gorgeous stage setting, magnificent and appropriate dressings, and a full grand operatic orchestra of 25 speciallyselected musicians.