Russian Ballet's New Productions In London

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 257, 28 July 1939, Page 14

Russian Ballet's New Productions In London

A NEW ballet by Fokine, based on the life of Paganini, was to be presented during the Russian Ballet’s season opening at Covent Garden on June 19. The music is by .Rachmaninoff.

M. Victor Dandre, who has arrived in London ahead of his company after leading them on their Australian and New Zealand tour, told how choreographer and composer had collaborated on this ballet. “Fokine and Rachmaninoff are close friends,” he said. “It was Rachmaninoff’s suggestion that his rhapsody on a theme by Pagajiini might be used as ballet music. Fokine was enthusiastic, and together they devised a ballet, in three parts. “The first shows Paganini, in the popular conception of the time, possessed by the devil. The second is a rural scene, in which he abandons his violin for a mandolin and plays to peasants near Florence. The third is a death-bed scene, where Paganini's Christian end refutes the legend of spirit-possession.” The principal dancers will be Baronova, Riabouchinska and Grigorieva Paganini is not a dancing part. “Le Fils Prodigue,” first presented in Australia, was to open the season. Anton Doiin dancing the chief foie on the first night and Lichine succeeding him.

gpHE completed script of Clare Boothe’s musical comedy “Our Wedding Day” reveals that she has written a pleasant story of charming people and a far cry from “The Women.”