The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-24
Spectacular Production Brings
Notable Tribute to Slavs at
/ First Appearance.
BRILLIANCY MARKS SCENES
Harmony in Color in Music and
4! n Costume Striking and
Captivating.

I The first of the three evening per-
formances to be given in Washington
by Serge De DiaRhileffs Ballet Russo.
look place at the National Theater
last night before an audience which
WAS quite as reminiscent OF Russia
hnd continental gatherings as was the
kreat ballet itself.
Even without the spectacle OF the
pancers on the stage. with the cur
tain lowered. there was no mistakiny
The nationality OF the sponsors and
the spirit of the attraction.
I Russian was the sharp, heavily
bearded silhouette of Conductor NJ.
Ernest Ansermet. which was cast
fGneo- like against the curtain during
the overtures, when only the foot
lights were on.
Russian. too. were the high and
shimmerlng head dresses which show
I'd here and there in the audience and
IN the boxes. And in pursuance OF the
continental custom of retaining from
applause during the course OF the ac-
tion OF an offering. those who broke
the spoil with hand clapping were ad-
monished.
Four Ballots Given.
-Four ballets were given, Cleopatra"
PIE Spectre De La Rose" "Soleil De
Mutt" and Carnival While the first
named ballet was quite the most exotic
and regally splendid OF the four, rep
tescntinE an episode in the life OF the
famous queen, with it's threefold sensu-
nus appeal OF color. harmony and move
ment. perhaps the second. lie Spectre
,De La Rose" was the most beautiful.
S-'Carnaval," the last ballet revealed
the rich humor and the simple pathos
of the Russians. All Of the characters
of the Italian puppet plays appear.
sIsoleii de Mutt was a spirited COM
pilation of folk dances.
All Of the premiere artists appeared
IN the course of these three ballets-
Lydia Lopokova. Flore Revalles, Lu-
bow Tcherpicheva, Adolf Bolm. Leonide
Mansine. and Alexandra Gavriloff.
Mme sloTS hey na,., appeared a:
supported by Lydia Sokolova as Tabor;
Adolf Bolm as Amour. the luckless
youth who aspired to love the Queen
for an hour; Alexandra oevriloff and
Hide Bewioke as fsvorite slaves, and
praest Of the temple.
Flaming and Brilliant.
TAs scene which Leon Balkst has
prepared for this ballet is flaming
and brilliant. with the angry reds and
smolderinR puppies of an Egyptian
temple reflectinE the devastating
passions of the principals. Slaves. at
tendanty. and bacchantes form q liv-
ing. tortuously moving Background
upon which are wrought the events
A young boy. Amour, a hunter, loves
Tabor. q young girl. deyotedly. until by
chance in the temple he sees Cleopatra.
the queen. He is consumed with passion
Tor her and Graves an hours bliss. II
- granted him, but at its close he Is
given the poison cup to drink. and is
left lifeless on the stage. where, broken
hearted; Tabor fnds him; l.,
Innocence and melting harmony OF
color. music, and setting, was in marked
contrast to all of the other ballets. A
young girlOydia Lopokoya) comes home
after a dance and stands looking out of
the window into the night.
She looks but for moment, and then,
crossing swiftly over to q chair, falls
asleep. She Is In her little white hall
gown. with a big red fragrant rose in
her hand. She xisses it before she
sleeps and then dreams that IL has come
Z A flame colored creature enters the
room. the incarnation of the rose. She
dances with him. but at last awakes.
md dead.
This choreographic tableau is az
ranged by L. Vaudeyer, from a poem by
Theopole Gautier. The music is Corl
Won Weber's Invitation to Dance" and
the dances are arranged by NJ. Michel
Noldne.
Leonide Massine took the leading part
In "Soleil De Mutt" assisted by a
chorus of peasants and bouffons. Tho
spirtted Russian music of this ballet
was given by the Rimsky-Korsakow
Orchestra.
Carnival" the last ballet, simple OF
betting but charmingly decorated from
aime to time with the picturesque dan
hers Themselves, exploited the abilities
Of nine of the principals.
Stanislas Idzikowski was a marvel
ouely graceful and magically agile
'Arleauin; Adolf Bolm was grotesque
pierrot; Lydia Lopokova. ColumbIne;
Mime. Lubow Tchernicheva, Chiarina.
Ind Nine. Sokolova. Papillion.
T3night,s Rogram will be Les syl-
lie Prince Igor" and "Scheherazade."
+. Il. Y.