The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-19
OBITUARY.

AUGUsrE BoURNoNvILLE, COPENHAGEN.
On Sunday. November 80. died suddenly at Copen-
hagen Auguste Bournonville, nearly seventy-fve
years DID, late ballet master at the Royal Theatre Of
that city Tho deceased sprang from q French
family OF noble extraction. some members Of which
have obtained military fame. His father, Antoine
Bournonville pupil of the celebrated Noverre. had
been engaged dancer in Vienna. in Cassel, and
in Stockholm where he present at the bal nasqus
which Ankerstr0m had chosen for assassnating King
Gustavus ILL.,. and thence came to Copenhagen. in
which town he spent the rest of his days. enjoying
great popularity elegant and accomplished
dancer. The son. born in 1905, made his first steps
the scene rs child of eight years. real extanf de
Medtre and gifted with rare powers in different d.
rections. AS youth he wayered between the drama.
the opera aud the ballet but at last he selected the
paternal art, for which no possessed q remarkable
talent. not only as dancer but. at the same time
and to still higher degree, composer of ballets.
After first visit to Paris he became at the age Of
eighteen first dancer at the Royal Theatre OF Copen-
hagen, but soon after returned to Paris, where he
studied his art under the famous vestris "ie die de
la ddnse, ~ he used to call himself, and was
Music which was then the ofcial title OF the Grand
Opera. On his return to his native country in 1880
he brought upon the stage several ballets of foreign
origin-such the "Sylphid" the "Somnambule''
and others, and then started himself rs composer
OF ballots with Faust" most remarkable debut.
For nearly forty years NJ. Bournonvie. with ter
tility of Inventive genius and richness OF poecal
taste lifted his works far above the insipid or
larcvious host OF so-calcd ballots, retained the
the Danish public by series OF choreographic
compositions. III the musical part OF which he had
the assistance Of first rate muscians-of COM
posers like NJ. Gade, Al. Hartmann. M. Fro
Itch and others. The ballots of Bournon-,
vile pictures of national manners aud
custonisgraceful, poetical narratives from differ
ent countries-into which tho dances In
natural and uupretending way, growing. so to say.
naturally out OF the action and thescenery. The
..roreador" treats of Spanish popular le the
splendid "Napoli,' perhaps his masterpiece "Ponte-
molle." "Albano," "Genzano," aud many more Of
Italian aud the lie of artists among the
lives; the "Aardanger Wedding takes its scenery
from Norway, the Conservatory" is charming
genre picture from Paris, "Far from Denmark"
Introduces us to nautical life and distant tropi-
cal countries, ''valdemar and ERIK Menved'
treat of subjects of Danish history the "valkyrie'
and "Thrymsguiden" even venture into the misty
and gigantic myths of Scandinavian poly theisni,
the "Fokcsagn" Ia popular tale) realizes the fairy
tales OF dlcarres vertes aud underground people,
changing their own new born children for unchris-
tened babes OF the rich aud the high bred. Many
more OF his ballets might be named. NJ. Bournon-
vile was not only highly appreciated composer
ana director OF ballots aud in his capacity OF
society, chosen by the royal family us teacher
their children aud had the honor be for years
the instructor OF the Princess OF Wales and OF the
Grand Duchess of Russia He was Knight OF the
Dannebrog and decorated with the silver cross Of
the Order. Some nights before his death his
ballet the ''Valdemar was represented for the 10th
time with general applause lie not Ill beforo
death he iel dow1 dcad In the street lust as he
was about to step into u tram car.