Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-25

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on the occasion of his SEVENTEEN
birthday anniversary.
Mr.. Diaghileff first became
known in America as the man
who brought the dazzling, epoch
making Ballet Russo to this couil-
try in 1915. He also is known as
the "diScoverer" of Feodor Chalia-
pin, who says of his first contact
with Diaghileff in his autobiog-
raphy:
ut was lucky day for me when
S. P. Diaghileff came with a propo-
Sition that I should 60 to Paris,
where he was anxious to arrange
a series of symphonic concerts, in
tended to acquaint PariSianS with
the historical development of
Russian music. On arrival
in Paris I put up at the same no
tel where Diaghileff was staying
I saw at once that serious work
was afoot and was being prose-
cuted with enthusiasm. There
seemed to be almost as much
movement and activity going on
around Diaghileff as in all Paris
besides"
Diaghileff himself is quoted as
having said at the time he
brought the Ballet Russo over
here that: America will produce
much great art when she has real
lied herself, and not before, but
Americans. while they love it, will
deny its existence in their drawing
rooms. 1t is unrefined! And they
copy Europe" With Fokine, the
noted ballet interpreter, and Leon
Bakst, the genius designer of cos
tunes and settings, Diaghileff Gre
ated a trinity that revolutionizcd
many conditions in the artistic
world and still show definite i'm
preston.
TT is interesting to learn that
L Americas newest Ambassador
to foreign land, which above all
other lands is noted for its love of
music, is himself sincerely intet-
eSted in the very highest product
of that art. John w. Garrett, re-
Gently designated as the new
United States Ambassador to Italy,
went abroad early in July with
Mrs. Garrett, following the close
of a SiX-week series of beautiful
chamber music programs given in
the delightful and unusual music
room designed by Leon Bakst, and
known as the Evergreen Theater
of their large estate in Baltimore.
In this atmosphere of extreme
artistry, with great arched beams
of dark wood above the walls bear
ing typical Bakst designs and
paintings, guests gathered after
moons and evenings for those six
weeks to hear music played by the
Musical Art Quartet, composed OF
Sascha Jacobsen, first violin; Paul
Bernard, second violin: Marie Roe
maet- Rosanoff, violoncello, and
Louis Kaufman, viola. Quartets
by Brahms, Beethoven. Ravel,
Hindemith and others both classic
and modern were played. Even
so, a dominant memory is the
playing of Bach's "Air for G
String" Also some Albeniz music
was given charmingly one evening
when the Cuban Ambassador was
among the guests. Many men,
bers of Washington's diplomatic
and other social sets attended
these musical events. The BEL
gian, Spanish. italian and Cuban
embassies and the Polish legation
were represented. Nicholas Long
worth attended a Sunday after
noon program. Mr.. and Mrs. Wal
ter Damrosch and other noted
also were among the
guests.
X X u
DAUL TCHERNIKOFF, Wash
ington dancer, writes enter
tainingly from Berlin. where he
has been the guest of friends at
the embassy. He says: "It seems
marvellous having three opera
houses going at the same time and
all excellently patronized. The
Knoll Opera House has recently
been renovated in modern style
and all operas have modern set
ting and Interpretation. The stage
is revolving one and was par
ticularly effective in the Tales of
The famous doll
scene was given with real labora-
DRY background and weird light
ng. The last act was exception
ally dramatic and tor the first
time the opera seemed really
great. There were no famous
names in the cast, but the whole
performance was balanced and
THE operas at the Inter den
Linden Theater are more preten-
;ious. We heard an unforgettable
performance of Tristan" with
Lieder and Branze!l.
Here, too, the settings are quite
modern and the orchestra capable.
We heard "Rosenkavalier" with
Schuetzendorf and I have never
been so amused before at an
opera. The most interesting part
Of my stay, however. was my work
at the Won Laban School. He is
of the modern German
school Of dancing. Wigman and
kreutzburg are among his pupils.
had two weeks of intensive
course, three to five hours daily.
I feel his method and ideas are
to the art of dancing.
They are complex and require
much mental exercise. In Sep
tember he is to move his school to
Essen, where it is to be subsidized
oy the CITY,"
Both Mr.. Tchernikoff and Lisa
attended the Mary Wig
nan School of Dance in Dresden.
Ethel Hoffman Kane also was to
visit that school. Mr.. Tchernikoff
visited John Beach. American
at his villa near Venice,
and gave a program of dances in