The Washington times., 1922-07-02
S0URIS Is
APPEALING IN
' IT'S MUSIC
From Fountain Head Of Slavic
Folk Song Balieff Brings Out
inspiring Melodies at All
Times Pleasantly Divsrting.

Inspiring Melodies at All
Times Pleasantly Divsrtlng.
BY GRENA BENNETT.
- YIKITA BALIEFF. the power
III behind the "Chauve Sourts"
- Company. will 90 Gown to
fame as q unique creator OF enter.
tainment and q musical enthusiast
of rare accomplishments. His
programs. first at the Forty-ninth
Street Theater and at present on
the Century Roof. are magical ad-
mixtures of color. temperament
and melody.
Particular stress is laid on the
music, which, after much delving
and study. Balieff has placed with
in and about his exotic d.
vertissement. The fountain head.
Of course, is the Slavic folksong.
with its Kaleidoscope tone-color
and ever-changing mood.
In "The Moscow Fiances." .
droll burlesque. enacted by two
beautiful marriageable girls, q
hawk-eyed matchmaker. and her
gnome.liked husband. a capering
hairdresser and a pompous soldier.
one hears musical setting
worthy OF being called a comic
opera in miniature. Not only 10
the score eloquent and charming.
but the significance Of each role
Is clear and diversified and never
at the cost of consistency and
amusement.
Gretchaninoff, one Of the most
talented and prolific Of Russian
writer's. supplied the music for
Moore's beautiful poem. Even
ing Bells" Two women's ex-
cellent voices. supported by a
sonorous basso profundo, intone
the melody. which ranges from
yearning and reverent to fervent
and jubilant, and is superimposed
on an accompaniment of rare
import.
An old French ballad. worthy
OF Yvette Guilbert's best artistry.
furnishes the inspiration for THE
King Orders the Drums to Be
Beaten" Not only is the quaint
air, with it's score or more Of
equally quaint verses. admirably
sung, but the story and the
medieval atmosphere are pre-
served and presented in a manner
that prove diligent study. artistic
understanding and an unusual ap-
probation of grouping and color
composition.
The musical scope Of the
Balieff program is all-embracing.
A delightful and at the same time
diverting Spanish Serenade Is not.
by any means, the least at.
tractive number. Aliabieffs rip
ping Song Of the Nightingale"
as It 10 presented at the Century.
recalls the memories Of Melba at
her best in an environment sug-
gestive OF Fragonard in his most
exquisite mood.
A group Of blazingly. brilliantly
clad peasant girls, or. as Balieff
calls them in native Russian.
"Bobbies," dance, cavort. entice
and shout to a collection OF
rhythmic songs Of the people.
songs that set the toes tapping
and the pulses throbbing.
Memories of the ancient army
with its gold lace and camaraderie
are recalled in several vigorous
soldier songs and a number by
q group of Black Hussars who re-
vive stirring romances and lively
drinking ballads by Russia's most
famous composers.
The peasant music, popular
songs Of town and ccs~try. the
hunt and the court, to mention
only a few Of the subjects, are in.
cluded in the list. THE Three
Huntsmen" has not only a musical
appeal, but with its bird-woman
in the crotch Of a queer tree and
its flirtatious mushroom gatherers,
II evokes round after round Of
laughter. And we'll It might. for
1t Is excruciatingly funny and
quantity grotesque.
The Baiieff program leans
strongly on the puppet y former.
Held over from the 4; list
are the delightful Parade Of the
Wooden Soldiers" and "Katinka," ="
in both Of which the eyes are
charmed and the ears pleased.
Two new acts Of the same charac'
ter are THE Musical Snuff Boz" "
in which the puppets act to a
tinkly tune resembling the ennis
sions from the music boxes Of
the Victorian era, and "Copen-
hagen Porcelain" in which the
three dainty figures step for a
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