New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-04
Beginning of Diaghileff's
Season of Four Weeks
Last Night.
THE FIRST OF THE
MONTHS NOVELTIES
lie Spectre de la use" Weber's
Music and Browns
Rhapsody.
Bv n. z. KREHBIEL.

The Russian dancers, FOR whose sake
the opera season was eurtailed three
weeks, took possession Of the Metro
politan Opera House last night There
they will remain for a month. sup
ported by a subscription which was
bound up with that OF the opera. and
the patronage OF the general public.
The edge OF the curiosity which loud
and persistent trumpetings had created
before the subscriptions were made was
worn off by the preliminary series OF
performances at the Century Theatre
in midseason. and there was no evil
dence OF palpitating interest at last
nights representation. The audience
was slow in gathering. the performance
had a late beginning and there was
only one novelty IN the list or pieces
presented. This was d duo-dance by
lydia Lopokova and Alexandra Ca
vrilof. entitled lie Spectre de la Rose.
The other ballets We're LES Sylphides,
arranged to music by Chopin; "Petro-
uchka." with original music by Stra-
whisky. and the Polovotsian dances.
from Borodin's opera Prince Igor,
which had been seen under conditions
which helped TO their better apprecla-
ton in the opera season which came 10
an end last Saturday.
The two Russian numbers summed
I'D what was most characteristic. most
valuable and most beautiful IN the en-
tertainment. The rest was without par.
ticular distinction. In the matter or
dancing, as such, neither the pretty
! capering 20 the music of Chopin and
that OF Weber's Invitation 20 the
I Dance" which gave rhythmical life 20
THE Spectre Of the Rose" brought
ANYTHING which could FOR moment ne
/ thought TO be a revelation, nor was
there in evidence anything 20 indicate
that the thrall of Bakst will hold the
public long. Il will not be strange II
that artists fantastic stage furniture
{ will soon affect the public, still little
/ bevildered by it, like u nightmare tven
/ after this has happened. however, the
| pantomime which tells of the tragedy
OF the puppets will live on IN the grow
/ ing admiration of the public, because
of its marvellous music. In THIS
/ Stravinsky has truly performed a
/ miracle with his blending Of Grass
realism and lofty poetical imaginative
ness.
In the adaptation OF a pantomimlc
+ dance 20 Weber's exquisite waltZorondo
the composers lovely dramatic con-
/ ceit has been sacrificed. Gautier's
poem cannot save il, for Nebers little
| drama in tones is more direct IN ITS ap-
peal 20 the fancy. Musical students
/ know that this early Towering OF the
romantic spirit in music mas a pro-
gramme concerning which the composer
himself gave more than a hint in a
letter 10 d friend. The meeting of the
lovers; the invitation 10 trip it spoken
by the chivslrous young gallant; the
modest hesitation on the part OF the
maiden; the bashful acceptance; the
intoxicating whirl of the dance, the
conversation of the happy pair, and
the courteous parting, with It's "mur-
murs made 20 bless are all IN tins
music, unmistakable to every listener
with half a spark Of Imagination.
What do the Russians give Us for the
dainty devices OF the introduction and
coda? What for the picture IN the
ballroom. which the author OF "Rab
and His Friends" in a criticism Of Sir
Charles Halle's playing OF the piano
forte niece printed in The Scotsman"
some 40 years ago, described as one I'VE
can all dance our fill in and get no mis-
chief? A young woman returns from
a ball; kisses rose; falls asleep;
dances anything but a waltz with a
vounc man IN fantastic rose-colored
tights (this is a dream we are asked
TO in sgine. though We see. her DO itl;
and wakes up 70 Kiss the rose again,
as her phantom visitor had kissed her
AZ parting; and then evidently goes 20
bed. Oh, for waltz like that of John
Browns describing such precision
and decision, Whsking them round,
moulding them into twin orbs. hurry
ing them past and away from every
far sway-almost out Of sight and
hearing. Round they come Here
again. He, perfecter, nobler, ADLER;
she. playing with those little feet the
prettiest second in the world We
quote from memory. Would that the
picture had been visualized for US last
night,