The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-07-26
THE BALLET.
Gossip About a Lost Art.
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With Fanny Elsserthe greatest artist OF the ballet
daction passes away. Inc ballet dacuon, Il Is per-
cluded irregular story or drama, with complete plot
told In dumb show. 1t was distinguished from the
advertisement, which was merely incidental dance,
conveying no particular meaning, and intended only
TO show the artist IN variety OF graceful pas and
poses Both the ballet d'action and the divertsse-
ment were common in the palmy days OF the art
that s, between 1s?5 and 1885, but 1t the former
which specially reused the enthusiasm Of the public
and brought out the highest powers of the per-
formers. And herein Fanny Ellser In the judg-
ment of most skilled critics, excelled all her COM
peers. Taglionis movements were more perfect,
Cerito was more vivaci0us and bu0yant Adele Du-
mlatre more graceful; but no artist of the century
combined in so striking degree the talents of
BENJAMIN I.nmey, and he ought to know: Tor he
was for twenty years director of Her Majesty's
Theatre, and about the largest "dealer In larynXes
and limbs in Europe. The inimable Fanny Elss-
Ter, Mr.. Lumley called her, had all the qualities
necessary for success on the photographic stage.
Her dancing was rare combination OF strength anu
elegance. Some OF her Understanding the great
Taglloni herself-were graceful rather than hand
some; but Elssler had superb and magnificent
beauty which conquered oil hearts. Her mind had
been almost as carefully cultivated her muscles,
which was not surprising, seeing that for some time
no less person than the Baron Friedrich Won
Cent?, diplomst inrist, philosopher and of the
world, made his business to superintend her edu.
cation This iaison between the statesman of nearly
seventy and the dancer of seventeen was a curious
Ii is now said to have been purely Piatonic -
Cent? was interested by the fair Viennese only as
teacher by an extremely promising pupil. In
fact
That innocent delight he took
To see the virgin mind her book
Was but the masters secret JOY
In school TO hear the finest boy.
II may have been so, though censorious world
sometimes thought otherwise. At any rate, Fanny's
connection with Cent?, and through him with fash
ionable and literary society helpedher in some degree
In making .rtu'ore In Germany, whence her fame
spread rapidly 10 France, England, America, ana
Russia. II was worth while to be Driita OdleTiha
at the time when Fanny Elssler was young. The
ballet was much the most important of the opera in
those days-ihe days, be II remembered, OF Mali
bran, Grisi. Labache, and Mario and when the lyric
drama was even more In favor with people anxious
to be considered fashionable and cultivated than
Is now. The manager who wanted to be successful
hsd to be more careful about his preDiieres dan
selses than about his tenor and soprano. The sem
sation OF London season was The appearance of q
new ballerina In a new ballet.
"Far more interesting than the OPERA" wrote the
1udcious critic OF the year lSi3 was the advertise
try Mile Adele Dumllatre.n In July, is4s, the
Queen paid state visit to The opera, and, at hel
Majesty's special command Fanny Elssler and Ce.
r1tO appeared in pas de deitr. The opera was " i
Barbiere,n performed by cast which included
Grlsi, Mario, Labache, and FOrnasar But II Gre
ated little excitement compared with the diyertisse
ment, in which the two great artists danced against
one another In fact, the half dozen balletdancer;
Of European emnence held a position such as nigh
equally lucky prime dome. Tagionl. Carlotta
Grisi, or CeritO received in night a sum muct
more than the less fortunate dramatists of thOsi
days could earn in twelve months.
For some fifteen years Fanny Elssler's life was
long series OF triumphs. Gold, gifts, and declare
tons OF love came to her in Hoods. She was egual
popular in Philadelphia and ST. Petersburg. WheI
she starred in America cities were Illuminated an,
ioral arches were erected in her honor. When tn
pas de qu0tre batween Taglioni, Cerito, Luc
Grain, and Grisi was arranged, II was feared tina
Grsi would not be able TO leave Paris in time for III
occasion. vessel was chartered from the Steam
Navigation Company 10 wait the sylph at q mo
ments notice across the channel; q special trail
was ready for her at Dover; relays of horses wer
waiting between Paris and Calais. When the pa
de q,tatre was actually performed 1t made Euro
pean sensation. "FrOm the palace to the shop
counter 1t was the great topic of the day, 10 The ex
clusioD of every interest, however serious"
All this had passed away. NO one cares much 10
the ballet now. II has almost disappeared from thu
serious operate stage 1t Is still In burlesque
extravaganza. and comic opera; and 80 far as re
CARDS tasteful arrangements OF coors, dresses, an
picturesque groups 1t Is probable that our stag
managers are considerably IN advance of their pre-
decessors But the ballet fraction and the pas sea
we seldom See, and when We do our chief feeling
one OF wonder; Why did our fathers rave abou
Rcanty, hut nevertheless unganly white vesture
twlrling and caperng all alone about the stage, /
lar from Impressive. and 1t Ia not in fact, much ap
preciated by an audience above the level of /
Theatre OF varieties" or a Christmas pantomimt
The skill displayed Ii rather that of the acrobat tina
OF the artist.
1t ia true we have no Taglionis and Rlsslers now
But II they could reappear among Us, should we los
least and In the sense OF artistic fitness, lay cla
10 have made some progress since l545. Possibly
the famed pas de qtdtT'e could be repeated for q
we should esteem II as lightly as we do the cOnteu
early Victorian period. Yet, since dancing Is III
doubleday one OF the 1ne arts II Is 10 be regrette
that our refined and scholarke stage directors hay
no dancers 30 gifted, carefully trained, and 80 d
posal Of the unregenerate managers Of forty yeai
sgo