The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-19
Great Diaghilef
! Ballet Russo Here
For November u

Fresh from triumph in Spain last
summer. where they were enthu-
siastically received by King Alphonso
and his court, the celebrated Serge DE
UiaEhilen Ballet Russo. hera!deo
u throughout the world as the artislc
sensation of this century. has been
I Persuaded by the Metropolitan Opera
Y Company Of New York to undertake
another tour OF this country. arriv-
ting after q preliminary engagement
IN New York at the Academy on Mon
may. November 81. The great ballet
Will be- under the artistic direction OF
Waslav Nijinsky, acknowledged TO be
the greatest male dancer now ahve'
Fho will appear at this performance.
~ What must at once appeal to art
lovers 10 the fact that the ballet Is
not merely q production. but Is In
itself an artistic movement It brings
the message of Russian culture 10
the new world, and helps dissipate the
absurd notion that Russia Is De-
Nighted nation of darkness.
N The Ballet Russo MS we shall see
" represents q coordination of all
the arts, made possible through the
genius of Diaghileff. There were bal
lets in Russia at the great theaters
OF Petrograd and Moscow before
Diaxhilefrs day. but they were just
4bAllets--good. bad and Indifferent. NO
Esuch ballet as his existed before ne
Baw the possibilities OF choreographic
art combined with the arts. 1t was
4 In fact a new correlation OF arts that
he conceived. and in the realization he
awoke modern Russian art to its fun
consciousness Combined therefore,
with drama which grips, music that
haunts and bizarre and weird COM
l1Anations of color in scenery ana cos
Aurnes, Is perfection of technique
found to equal degree In premiers and
the two-score dancers that make up
the company 1t Is the magic of this
ensemble. the production of the
genius OF Diaghileff. which has caused
the Ballet Russo to be held through
out Europe as the artistic sensation
of the twentieth century.
For six years art and musical critics
in this country reprinted dispatches
from, abroad which outlined the glory
and brilliance of the Diaghiler troupe
\ aNd travellers from the continent VINO
had seen 1t, proclaimed It's powers
in addition. But the season OF the
ballet was entirely taken up with en-
.gagements In the capitals abroad ana
the opportunity for Americans 10 view
l II was very slight, When the war broke
nneutal tour was impossible. and 1t
Was then that the Metropolitan Opera
Company of New York. with the en-
terprise that has marked II the great
ut art patron in the world, stepped
forward and arranged to bring the
great spectacle to America. The trip
last year was an entire success. the
ballet being greeted IN every quarter
a. the courier OF new and vital art
With the unstable conditions abroad
still prevailing the Metropolitan d.
Yrectors decided to send the troupe
Throughout the country to herald the
new art of the dance. This decision
was made after the arrival of Waslav
Nijinsky, the great Russian premier.
who was held prisoner in Austria
a. the time of last years tour. He
will accompany the dancers through
cut the trip this year in the dual Ca
naeity of artistic director and premier
dancer.
lie Dieu Bieu" and "Sadko."
two balIets familiar abroad. will
have their first presentation here
rsa ~ the origiual repertorv. "Sche-
heraxade," "Narcisse.' 'L'Apres
Midi dun Faune." and Cleopatra"
are typical. There will I've primitive
motifs classic legends, eighteenth CEN
tury grace, elegance and fancy. Pc
culiar interest attaches itself to tho
work of Leon Bakst. the celebrated
Artist who has designed most Of the
scenery and stage decorations. His
ssttings are pictures such as our
2 stage rarely has seen. showing as
they do, backgrounds against which
the dancers arr vivid or melt away;
and his costumes are marvels OF fiery
glow and diapfanols loveliness. The
work OF Robert Edmond Jones. the
American artist who has designed the
costumes and scenery of the new bal
let, Is also worthy OF note.