RUSSIAN BALLET

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 102, 24 January 1940, Page 5

RUSSIAN BALLET

May Tour New Zealand In June Or July

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN ONCE MORE Mr. Jahn Tait, governing director of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and J. and N. Tait, Ltd., has arrived on a visit to New Zealand, bis first for two years. "I saw the Covent Garden Ballet at the Theatre Royal before I left Sydney,” lie said, "and was genuinely charmed with the new organization which was brought out this time under the personal management of Colonel Basil, a gentleman of mercurial temperament, who knows every turn in the intricate business concerning the Russian ballet, and has been intimately concerned in its organization for the past 15 years in Europe and America. “The Ballets I saw were ‘Les Sylphides’ and ‘Swan Lake,’ and for sheer beauty of design and performance these ballets would take a deal of beating. The company, which will come to New Zealand if circumstances make it possible, includes such brilliant ptars as Lichine (who was out of action on the last tour through an in-, jured knee), the electric Serge Lifar, Nemchinova, Verchinina and Toumanova, all beautiful dancers quite up to the standard of the last company. The company, travels seventy strong, and has a line orchestra controlled, as before, by M. Dorati. “The ballet was originally due to arrive in Sydney in November, but because of the war and hold-ups by shipping companies it did not reach Sydney until the day after Boxing Day, and could not open till a week later. It will probably play ten weeks in Sydney and as loug in Melbourne, so, if it comes to New Zealand ut all, it will probably be about June or July next.” “We have a new Gilbert and Sullivan opera company opening in Sydney at Easter,” said Mr. Tait. “Do you know, we are always receiving letters from people all over the country, asking us when another season of Gilbert and Sullivan is likely to eventuate. 'These operas have the gift of eternal popularity, and even though there is a war on, I think the public will tome to see them again. You will be pleased to learn that we have once more engaged Mr. Ivan Menzies to play tbo comedy roles in the operas. I met Mr, Menzies in London recently, and he was sparking as well as lie ever did, and is looking forward to seeing all his old friends again in Australia and New Zealand.

“I regret to say that according to latest advices Yehudi Menuhin, the famous violinist, is not likely to visit us this year as expected,’’ said Mr. Tait. “Possibly the exigencies of the war have brought this about, but the last communication inferred that a tour was not likely to eventuate this year.”