Guide to the Guide to theatre programmes, ephemera relating to the Ballets Russes in Australasia
Russes
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Title
- Theatre programmes, ephemera relating to the Ballets Russes in Australasia
- Date Range
- 1936-1940
- Collection Number
- Russes
- Extent
- 212 items
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Printed Collections
Introduction
Scope and Contents
This finding aid lists programs and ephemera which document 1936-1940 Australasian tours of the Ballets Russes, primarily based on material in the National Library of Australia's Performing Arts Programs and Ephemera (PROMPT) collection.
Preferred Citation
Acknowledgement of use this material should refer to the Ephemera PROMPT collection.
Citation of items from this collection should include references to author's/organisation's name, date, item title, Publisher and place of publication.
Example: J.C. Williamson (Firm). & Theatre Royal (Adelaide, S.A.). 1950, Gilbert & Sullivan opera season [theatre program] : The gondoliers J. C. Williamson Ltd [Adelaide]
Related Materials
Biographical materials on some of the personnel associated with the Ballets Russes tours are available in the Library's biographical cuttings files. They may be requested through the National Library's catalogue [https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/] for reading room use.
Manuscript collections of personnel associated with the Ballets Russes tours include Harcourt Algeranoff, Irina Baronova, Valrene Tweedie, Edouard Borovansky, Tamara Tchinarova Finch, Margaret Walker, J.C. Williamson (Firm). The Geoffrey Ingram Ballet Archive contains additional material on the Ballets Russes tours. Accessible through the Library's catalogue – some online, others for reading room use.
Newspapers contain articles, reviews of performances and social notes on the Ballets Russes tours. Accessible through the Library's catalogue and Trove [https://trove.nla.gov.au/].
Oral history interviews of some of the personnel associated with the Ballets Russes tours include Paul Hammond, Geoffrey Ingram, Valrene Tweedie, Max Dupain, Kira Bousloff, Tamara Tchinarova Finch, Irina Baronova, Anna Volkova Barnes, Kirril Vassilkovsky, Sono Osato, Betty Low (Ludmilla Lvova), Jean Haet (Kira Bounina), Annette Gillen and Edward Pask. Accessible through the Library's catalogue – some online, others for reading room use.
Pictures of some of the personnel associated with the Ballets Russes tours include Edouard Borovansky, Irina Baronova, David Lichine, Max Dupain, Anton Dolin, Helene Kirsova, Valentina Blinova, Kira Bousloff, Valrene Tweedie. They are accessed through the Library's catalogue and Trove.
Arrangement
The Ballets Russes PROMPT files may requested by eCall-slip for use via the Library's catalogue [https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/]. It is important to note that individual theatre programs and ephemeral items are not listed in the catalogue record. Using the PROMPT collection files is a browsing exercise in which the user may be confronted with a single item in a manila folder or a large number of folders in many boxes.Selected items have been digitised and use of those digital copies helps preserve the printed originals.
The Ballets Russes files in the PROMPT collection are arranged as follows and may be requested by tour:- Ballets Russes: Tour No. 1, 1936-1937- Ballets Russes: Tour No. 2, 1938-1939- Ballets Russes: Tour No. 3, 1939The most complete holdings of cast lists for certain portions of the three tours are held within the bound volumes of the J.C. Williamson segment of the PROMPT Collection. These are referred to in this Finding Aid as "JCW/BS Vol …".Copies should be requested in the following manner, example:PROMPTJCW/BS Volume…. The following search strategies are suggested to maximise discovery of other Ballets Russes material in the Library's catalogue:- Personal names of key personnel involved- Title keywords: Ballet(s) Russe(s), Monte Carlo Russian Ballet, Covent Garden Russian Ballet, Original Ballet Russe, de Basil, de Basil's, J.C. Williamson and Educational Ballets- Subject keywords: Ballet(s) Russe(s), Monte Carlo Russian Ballet, Covent Garden Russian Ballet, Original Ballet Russe, de Basil, de Basil's, J.C. Williamson Firm, Educational Ballets, Ballet Australia History and Ballet companies Australia
The Publishing of Programs
Beginning in the 1920s, the J.C. Williamson organisation [JCW] published a Magazine programme in cities with theatres operated by them, namely Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. These multi-purpose publications covered current and forthcoming attractions in JCW theatres in each of these cities for various periods.
The frequency of the magazine programs is difficult to accurately establish. Some assistance in dating is given on cast list pages announcing "Season commencing. June 23…". In some cities such as Melbourne and Sydney where JCW operated up to three theatres the issuing of a magazine program appears to have been relatively frequent (either weekly or fortnightly) and the publications themselves were larger, often over 50 pages.
In general, the covers of the magazine programs were the same for long periods of time and were usually used in all cities. However, for major attractions such as the Ballets Russes tours, some special covers were used at various times. These special covers are indicated in the chronological listings for each Ballets Russes tour.
The Magazine programs included a large amount of advertising and publicity material for current and forthcoming attractions with biographies, portraits, scenes from attractions and reports from overseas featuring prominently. Much of this information was repeated or rearranged from issue to issue. Advance publicity increased in volume as the attraction drew nearer.
In relation to the Ballets Russes tours, Magazine programs are particularly useful for the publicity surrounding the tours, articles by Arnold Haskell, biographies, and portraits of dancers, music staff and management. Product advertising using leading dancers is also of interest.
The combined publicity machines of de Basil and JCW produced glossy Souvenir programs for some of the seasons. Largely photographic in nature, they featured principal dancers of the company, scenes from some of the ballets performed, and leading personalities associated with the tour. These should not be confused with some issues of the routine Magazine programs which have 'Souvenir Program' overprinted on the cover, but which contain nothing of a special nature.
Cast lists for musicals, variety shows, dramas and comedies were usually included in the text of the Magazine program. However, for opera and ballet they were NOT included. Instead, separate four page folded cast lists were published covering a season of a multiple bill, whether it was one, three, five or eight nights in duration.
It is important to note that two 'types' of cast lists occur indicating either repertoire or cast changes. These can appear to be duplicates but reveal changes after a careful internal examination of the text has been done. This is in spite of the same date span being stated, for example, "Week commencing Saturday, November 7, 1936". Evidence suggests that these 'weekly' cast lists were in some instances issued daily. The second smaller 'type' are those where the specific performance date has been printed at the top of the cast list, for example, "Wednesday evening, December 9". These subtle changes may reflect cast or repertoire changes from one night to the next, a factor which the researcher needs to be aware of. Differences in dating which occur on cast lists have been noted in the list which follows. The collecting and preserving of these loose cast lists is particularly important as they represent the best available evidence of the repertoire actually performed and who performed it.
The Library has acquired cast lists from many sources over the years. Some have come to the Library loosely inserted into an issue of a magazine program and these have been retained in situ as it is assumed that is the manner in which they were issued. Others have been acquired as individual items which might have been handed out to patrons at the performance in that form. On the other hand they might have become separated from a magazine program. Cast lists held as individual items form the bulk of the documentation of the Ballets Russes tours in the PROMPT Collection.
Some examples of advertising ephemera such as brochures, booking forms, invitations, etc. have survived and are noted under the relevant season. Advertisements, reports, reviews and listings in newspapers can also be used as source material for documenting the Ballets Russes tours, however, these sources have not been included in this finding aid.
Acquisition history
Over the years, the Library has acquired published material on the Ballets Russes tours from three sources – J.C. Williamson, Geoffrey Ingram, and through routine acquisitions of retrospective Australiana whether by gift or purchase.
When the firm of J.C. Williamson's closed in 1973, the Library acquired a significant collection of material from the Sydney office of the company (See the description in Potter, A Full house - reference in the Sources section above). Included in the large collection was a bound set of Magazine programmes and cast lists which provide a near complete record of JCW theatres in Sydney from the 1920s to the late 1960s. It is thought that they were probably working copies for JCW office staff, as they are well used, indexed and occasionally annotated. In some cases these bound volumes constitute the most complete holdings of cast lists for certain portions of the three Ballets Russes tours. These are referred to in the listing as "JCW/BS Vol…".
Individual cast lists covering other portions of the tours were acquired from JCW and form part of the PROMPT ephemera holdings. These are referred to in the finding aid as 'separates'.
Geoffrey Ingram was a former dancer with the Borovansky Ballet and was founding administrator of the Australian Ballet, as well as being a collector of historical Australian dance material. The Library acquired a significant portion of his collection including substantial holdings of magazine programs and cast lists for the Ballets Russes, particularly the Melbourne seasons. These have been integrated into the PROMPT collection.
The Library is actively filling in gaps in its Australiana collections. As such it acquires retrospective material, including published material relating to the Ballets Russes tours. These are integrated into the PROMPT collection.
With the compilation of this holdings list, the Library's holding of Ballets Russes programs and ephemera have been brought together for the first time to form a near complete record of these historic tours.
JCW consistently used 'program' to refer to their magazine program. This meaning has been retained in this finding aid. To avoid confusion, 'program' in inverted commas is used throughout when referring to a ballet season.
Bibliography
The main sources used in compling this finding aid were:
- 'Another beginning' [motion picture]. Sydney : Australian Broadcasting Commission c. 1970. Film No. 564; Call No.FLM 0114785, National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA). Other films used for research include the Ewan Murray-Will 'Ballets Russes collection' and Ringland Anderson 'Ballet films' held at the NFSA.
- 'The Ballets Russes in Australia : an avalanche of dancing' [video recording]. Canberra : National Film and Sound Archive ; National Library of Australia, 1999.
- Cargher, John. Opera and ballet in Australia [https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/11638843]. Stanmore, NSW: Cassell Australia, 1977. p. 217-222.
- From Russia with love : costumes for the Ballets Russes 1909-1933 [https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/6371577] [edited by] Susan Hall … Canberra : National Gallery of Australia, 1999.
- Garcia-Marquez, Vicente. The Ballets Russes : Colonel de Basil's Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, 1932-1952. New York : A. Knopf, 1990. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/17082828]
- Haskell, Arnold L. Dancing round the world: memoirs of an attempted escape from ballet / by Arnold L. Haskell ; [drawings by Daryl Lindsay]. London : V. Gollancz, 1937. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8758806]
- Healy, Robyn. From studio to stage: costumes and designs from the Russian Ballet in the Australian National Gallery by Robyn Healy and Michael Lloyd. Canberra : Australian National Gallery, 1990. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/6741220]
- Parsons, Phillip, general editor Companion to theatre in Australia. Stanmore, NSW : Currency Press, 1995. "J.C. Williamson's": p. 299-303. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/11562818]
- Pask, Edward H. Enter the colonies dancing: a history of dance in Australia, 1835-1940. Melbourne : Oxford University Press, 1979. p. 135-169.
- Potter, Michelle. 'The fire and the rose,' in Brolga – an Australian journal about dance, No. 29, December 2008. Australian Dance Council – Ausdance: Braddon, ACT, 2008. pp. 11-16.
- Potter, Michelle. A full house: the ESSO guide to the Performing Arts Collections of the National Library of Australia. Canberra : National Library of Australia, 1991. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/16916647]
- Potter, Michelle. A Passion for dance. Canberra : National Library of Australia, 1997. [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3021496]
- Potter, Michelle. The Russian Ballet in Australia 1936-1940: sources for modernism in Australian art [manuscript]. 1987. Thesis (B.A.). Canberra: Australian National University, 1987. Contains an important appendix entitled: 'Appendix II. The Australian repertoire, 1936-1940 : chronology', leaves 113-143. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/21481242]
- Tait, Viola. A Family of brothers : the Taits and J.C. Williamson : a theatre history. Melbourne : Heinemann, 1971. [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1009865]
- Tweedie, Valrene. 'Memories of Symphonie fantastique,' in Brolga - an Australian journal about dance, No. 26, June 2007. Australian Dance Council - Ausdance: Braddon, ACT, 2007. p. 28. [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2105194]
- Walker, Kathrine Sorley. De Basil's Ballets Russes. London : Hutchinson, 1982. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/9561251]
- West, John. Theatre in Australia. Stanmore, NSW : Cassell Australia, 1978. [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2644026]
- Whiteoak, John, and Aline Scott-Maxwell, Aline, eds, Currency companion to music and dance in Australia, Sydney : Currency Press, 2003.
Biographical / Historical
Ballets Russes is a generic name given to a succession of ballet companies which emerged in Europe after the demise of Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in 1929. These companies were founded and managed by Colonel Wassily de Basil and Rene Blum, either jointly or separately. They continued the Diaghilev tradition performing much of his repertoire and using some dancers from the Diaghilev companies.
During the 1930s and 1940s there were several Ballets Russes companies which toured throughout Europe, the Americas and to Australasia. Three Ballets Russes companies were formed for touring to Australia between 1936 and 1940. Two of these tours, in 1936-1937 and 1938-1939, included New Zealand. J.C. Williamson Theatres Ltd entrepreneured all three Australasian tours.
Audiences in Australia had previously seen a sampling of the Diaghilev tradition through earlier tours by companies built around prominent ballerinas. In 1913, Adeline Genee toured to Australia with members of the Imperial Russian Ballet. Anna Pavlova toured to Australia twice with her own companies in 1926 and 1929.
In 1934, the Dandre-Levitoff Russian Ballet Company toured to Australia, headed by the famous Russian ballerina Olga Spessivtzeva. These companies had strong links to each other, eg. Victor Dandre was Pavlova's Manager. As well, dancers such as Algeranoff came to Australia with Pavlova in 1926 and 1929, and later returned with the Ballets Russes.
The National Library also holds collections of programs for each of these earlier visiting companies.
Names: A Ballet Company by any Other Name?The various companies formed by de Basil and Blum tended to use parts of each other's names, which can lead to confusion.
For the Australasian tours the first company in 1936-1937 was called Colonel W. de Basil's Monte Carlo Russian Ballet, sometimes abbreviated to The Monte Carlo Russian Ballet.
The second company in 1938-1939 was called the Covent Garden Russian Ballet.
For the third company touring in 1939-1940 three names were used: Colonel W. de Basil's Covent Garden Ballet, Colonel W. de Basil's Ballet Company and The Original Ballet Russe. The last name was used from 1940 until the company ceased operating in 1952.
Further details on the companies' lineages are given in various references such as Walker, Pask and Cargher (see Related Materials note).
Item Descriptions
Class. Tour No. 1, 1936 - 1937
82 itemsColonel W. De Basil's Monte Carlo Russian Ballet (sometimes abbreviated to Monte Carlo Russian Ballet) toured Adelaide-Melbourne-Sydney-New Zealand-Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne-Adelaide.
Note: (E) denotes an evening performance, (M) denotes a matinee.
PersonnelDancers as listed in cast listsBallerinas: Helene Antonova, Valentina Blinova, Irina Bondireva, Nathalie Branitzka, Mona Dimidova, Mira Dimina (Madeleine Parker), Helene Ducrailova, Nina Golovina, Margot Guerard (Mary Garina), Vanda (or Wanda) Grossen, Xenia Kalinowska, Helene Kirsova, Marija (or Moussia) Korjinska, Vera Lipska, Tatiana Mouravieva, Nina Natova, Helene Polouchina, Nina Raievska, Lilia (or Lelia) Roussova, Anna Severska, Anna Skarpa (or Anna Skarova), Elisabeth Souvorova (Betty Scorer), Tamara Tchinarova, Maria Valevska, Olga Valevska, Irina Vassilieva, Sonia Woizikowska and Nina Youchkevitch
Also appearing briefly (Source: Walker, 1982): Jean Brandon, Edna Brusse, Cherlova (Melbourne, 1937), Peggy Chauncey (Petrova), Patricia Cape, Jean Edwards, E. Georgieva, Joan Hope, Anne Mackentosh (Anne Chloe Elder), Marianne Martin, Mourova, Lindsay Shaw and Alexandra Stepanova.
Male dancers: Savva Andreieff, Thomas Armour, Jean Aykoff, Valentine Baline, Birger Bartholin, Jashf Crandall (Joseph Crandall), Joseph (or Jash or Jashf) Dolotine, Alexis Frank, Valentin Froman, Roland Guerard, Jean (or Jan) Hoyer, Milos Ristic, Ivan (or Vania or Jean) Rykoff, Valery Shaevsky, Thadee Slavinsky, Arnold Spirka, Dmitri Tovaroff, Serge Unger (or Serge Ungern), Serge Vladimiroff, Marjan Winter, Igor Yousskevitch and Leon Woizikowsky.Also appearing briefly (Source: Walker, 1982): Vassilie Trunov/Trunoff.
Dance staffChoreographer: Leon WoizikowskyMaitre de ballet/Regisseur-General: Leon Woizikowsky Regisseur/Assistant Regisseur: Jean Hoyer
Music staffPrincipal conductor: Jascha HorensteinAssociate conductor/musical director: Ivan Clayton
ManagementDirector: Jacques LidjiFounder and Director General: Col. W. de BasilColonel de Basil's representative: Alexander PhilippovLiaison officer: Arnold Haskell
Series. General Tour publication
Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo (Col. W. de Basil's) Ltd. : Australia and New Zealand, season 1936-1937, 1936 (Item)
New York : Nicolas Publishing Co, 1936. [29 p.] : ill. (some col.), ports. ; 31 cm.
A souvenir book issued for the Australasian tour featured a coloured cover of a reproduction of an original design by Ivan Bilibine of five women in Russian regional costume. The book contained a group photo of the company ; portraits of dancers ; synopses to 20 ballets ; 8 pages of colour illustrations of costumes, colour illustrations of scenery for Aurora's wedding, Pulcinella, Scheherazade, Soleil de nuit, L'oiseau de feu, Les cent baisers, Cotillon, Scuola di ballo and Les presages.
Series. Tour 1 Adelaide
Subseries. Publications
Magazine program (File)
Three issues were published for the Adelaide season. All have 32 pages and contain stories of 21 ballets, with several biographies of the artists and the company. Portraits of the three principals, some soloists and the baby ballerinas such as Sonia Woizikowska are included. The remainder of the content is theatre gossip, advertisements, etc. Two issues had the same cover of a ballerina wearing a green hat. Above the illustration are the words "Colonel W. de Basil's Monte Carlo Russian Ballet, Theatre Royal, Adelaide". Two contain programs of ballets to be performed in Programs 1-3 and 4-5 respectively. Another issue announced the exclusion of Le spectre de la rose.
The program of ballets changed twice weekly.
Subseries. Season
Overture: Prince Igor (Borodin), 13 October 1936 - 15 October 1936 (File)
Les sylphides (Australian premiere), Scheherazade (Australian premiere), Le spectre de la rose (Australian premiere), La boutique fantasque (Australian premiere). "Program 1" as advertised in the first magazine program.NLA does not hold a separate cast list.
Overture: Prince Igor (Borodin), 16 October 1936 - 19 October 1936 (File)
Carnaval (Australian premiere), Scheherazade (Australian premiere), Le beau Danube (Australian premiere), Le spectre de la rose . "Program 2" as advertised together with Program 1 in the first magazine program. NLA does not hold a separate cast list.
Overture: Prince Igor (Borodin), 17 October 1936 (File)
Carnaval, Scheherazade, Le beau Danube, Le spectre de la rose.
Overture: Merry wives of Windsor (Nicolai), 20 October 1936 - 22 October 1936 (File)
Le lac des cygnes (Australian premiere), La boutique fantasque, L'apres midi d'un faun (Australian premiere), Prince Igor (Australian premiere). "Program 3" as advertised together with programs 1 and 2 in the first magazine program. NLA does not hold a separate cast list.
Overture: Merry wives of Windsor (Nicolai), 22 October 1936 (File)
Le lac des cygnes, La boutique fantasque, L'apres-midi d'un faune, Prince Igor.
Overture: Prince Igor (Borodin), 23 October 1936 - 26 October 1936 (File)
Les sylphides, Les presages (Australian premiere), Le beau Danube. "Program 4" as advertised in the second magazine program. NLA does not hold a separate cast list.
Series. Tour 1: Melbourne, 31 October 1936 - 22 December 1936
His Majesty's Theatre.
Related Materials
Search Trove [https://trove.nla.gov.au/] for related newspaper coverage.
Subseries. Publications
Magazine program (File)
Two covers issued for the Melbourne season. The first cover for the earlier part of the season has a Baroque couple with a hovering cupid. This issue has 34 pages. It includes page length portraits of Woizikowsky, Blinova, Kirsova as well as smaller portraits of other soloists. There are illustrations of scenes from five ballets and articles on the Company's history, and the history of the Russian ballet. The second cover features a ballerina with a green hat. This larger issue has 46 pages. Title page lists the company of 46 members and two conductors. Stories of the ballets are included with several biographies of the artists, company with portraits. Additional ballets such as Fantasie chinois, Casse noisette, La concurrence were advertised but there is little evidence of them being performed.
Ballet programs changed weekly on Saturday; however, they were not printed in the magazine program.
Cast lists (File)
Provide a statement of the 'Program' of ballets and casts covering performances usually over various periods, from one to six nights, beginning on Saturday,evening.
A complete set of cast lists is held for this season, with annotations by hand indicating the changing program (JCW/BS, Volume 24).
Subseries. Season
Overture: Rosamunde (Schubert), 31 October 1936 (File)
Les sylphides, Scheherazade, Le mariage d'Aurore. Second copy with cast changes.
Overture: Merry wives of Windsor (Nicolai), 7 November 1936 (File)
Carnaval, Les presages, La boutique fantasque. Second copy with cast changes.
Le lac des cygnes, 14 November 1936 (File)
Petrouchka (Australian premiere), L'apres- midi d'un faune, Prince Igor.
Overture: Oberon (Weber), 21 November 1936 (File)
Scuola di ballo, Le spectre de la rose, L'amour sorcier, Le beau Danube.
Overture: Oberon (Weber), 21 November 1936 (File)
L'amour sorcier (Australian premiere), Le spectre de la rose, Scuola di ballo (Australian premiere), Le beau Danube. Order changed for remainder of week commencing Monday, evening, 23rd November.
Overture: Russlan and Ludmilla (Glinka), 28 November 1936 (File)
Cotillon (Australian premiere), L'oiseau de feu (Australian premiere), Le mariage d'Aurore. Second copy with cast changes.
Overture: Rosamunde (Schubert), 5 December 1936 (File)
Les sylphides, Contes russes (Australian premiere), Les cent baisers (Australian premiere), Prince Igor. Second copy with cast changes.
Overture: Rosamunde (Schubert), 8 December 1936 (File)
Les sylphides, Contes russes, Les cent baisers, Prince Igor.
Overture: Rosamunde (Schubert), 9 December 1936 (File)
Les sylphides, Contes russes, Les cent baisers, Prince Igor.
Overture: Rosamunde (Schubert), 9 December 1936 (File)
Les sylphides, Contes russes, Scheherazade. Program change.
Overture: Rosamunde (Schubert), 10 December 1936 (File)
Les sylphides, Scheherazade, Contes russes. Same as for Wednesday evening except different order of program.
Overture: Rosamunde (Schubert), 11 December 1936 (File)
Les sylphides, Scheherazade, Contes russes. Same as for Thursday evening except for cast changes.
Overture: Rosamunde (Schubert), 12 December 1936 (File)
Les sylphides, Contes russes, La boutique fantasque. Program change.
Series. Tour 1: Sydney
Subseries. Publications
Magazine program (File)
One cover was used for the Sydney season containing a design by Norman Lindsay of a scene from Scheherazade. Some of the issues include the artist's name on the cover. Many magazine programs were issued, each varying slightly regarding articles and advertisements. All issues contain 40 pages. A title page featured the members of the company [between 43-44] and the two conductors. Stories of all ballets performed in Sydney were included as well as biographies and portraits of the principals, some soloists, the baby ballerinas, and the company.Programs of ballets performed were not printed in the magazine program. Issues of the Magazine program released prior to the season had a cover of a ballerina en pointe with an orchestra at her feet. They contained 40 pages and approximately 30% of it was given to the forthcoming JCW attractions, notably the ballet company. They included portraits of Woizikowsky, Blinova and Kirsova and others, introductions to the art of the ballet, biographies of some of the artists and baby ballerinas. Advertised repertoire included The good humoured ladies which was not performed in this season.
Subseries. Season
Overture: Rosamunde (Schubert), 26 December 1936 (File)
Les sylphides, Scheherazade, Le mariage d'Aurore.
Overture: Merry wives of Windsor (Nicolai), 2 January 1937 (File)
Carnaval, Les presages, La boutique fantasque.
Overture: Oberon (Weber), 16 January 1937 (File)
Les sylphides, Le beau Danube, L'apres-midi d'un faune, Prince Igor.
Overture: Oberon (Weber), 20 January 1937 (File)
Les sylphides, Le beau Danube, L'apres-midi d'un faune, Prince Igor.
Overture: Oberon (Weber), 20 January 1937 (File)
Les sylphides, Le beau Danube, L'apres-midi d'un faune, Prince Igor. Matinee deleted with autograph of date change to evening.
Overture: Oberon (Weber), 22 January 1937 (File)
Same program as Wednesday evening, 20 January 1937. Matinee deleted with autograph of date change to evening.
Overture: Russlan and Ludmilla (Glinka), 23 January 1937 (File)
Cotillon, L'oiseau de feu, Le mariage d'Aurore.
Series. Tour 1: New Zealand, February 1937 - April 1937
Subseries. Publications
Souvenir program, 1937 (File)
Colonel W. de Basil's Monte Carlo Russian Ballet, New Zealand, 1937. [Sydney : J.C. Williamson, 1937]. 36 p. : ill., ports. ;28 cm.
Issued on glossy paper for the New Zealand tour featuring the Sydney cover by Norman Lindsay as well as a "Behind scenes" design by his brother Daryl Lindsay. The title page lists the 42 members of the company, and the conductors. Four programs of ballets to be performed were printed in the souvenir book. Also included are a brief history of company, page length portraits of de Basil, Woizikowsky, Blinova, Kirsova, Horenstein as well as smaller portraits of others, and biographies of artists. A centrefold montage of photos is entitled "Scenes and personalities. Colonel W. de Basil's Monte Carlo Russian Ballet". Brief summaries of the ballets included.
Wanganui Opera House Saturday, 20 March 1937
Advertising (File)
Cover title The greatest ballet tour in history! J.C. Williamson Ltd's huge attraction : Colonel W. de Basil's Monte Carlo Russian Ballet. 1 folded sheet [5 pages] ; 29 cm.
"Behind scenes" design by Daryl Lindsay. A second sketch by him included as no. 3.
Centrefold taken from the souvenir program with some changes. Includes 15 illustrations of rehearsal, portraits, and performances. Advertisement includes a repertoire of Les sylphides, Scheherazade, Le mariage d'Aurore.
Series. Tour 1: Brisbane, 8 May 1937 - 27 May 1937
His Majesty's Theatre.
Subseries. Publications
Magazine program (File)
Cover for the Brisbane season contains a design by Norman Lindsay of a scene from Scheherazade. Some of the issues include the artist's name on the cover. A title page featured the members of the company [between 43-44] and the two conductors. Stories of all ballets performed in Brisbane were included as well as biographies and portraits of the principals, some soloists, the baby ballerinas and the company.
Programs of ballets performed were not printed in the magazine program.
Earlier issues held include publicity about the company, stories of the ballets, biographies and portraits of the dancers.
Subseries. Seasons
Les sylphides, 8 May 1937 - 12 May 1937 (File)
Scheherazade, Le mariage d'Aurore. NLA does not hold magazine program or cast lists.
Les cent baisers, 13 May 1937 - 18 May 1937 (File)
Les presages, La boutique fantasque. NLA does not hold magazine program or cast lists.
Le Lac des cygnes, 19 May 1937 - 22 May 1937 (File)
Soleil de nuit, Port Said, Prince Igor. NLA does not hold magazine program or cast lists.
Series. Tour 1: Sydney, 29 May 1937 - 18 June 1937
Theatre Royal, return season.
Subseries. Publications
Magazine program (File)
Same in style, format, cover, content and advertisements as for the first Sydney season.
Only one cover of the magazine program was used for the return Sydney season containing a design by Norman Lindsay of a scene from Scheherazade. Some of the issues include the artist's name. Many magazine programs were issued, each varying slightly regarding articles and advertisements. Issues contain 40 pages. A title page lists the members of the company [between 43-44] and the two conductors. Stories of all ballets performed in Sydney included. Biographies and portraits of the principals, some soloists, the baby ballerinas and the Company.
Programs of ballets performed were not printed in the magazine program.
Issues released prior to the season have a cover of a ballerina en pointe with an orchestra. They contain 36 pages and approximately 30% devoted to forthcoming JCW attractions, notably the ballet season. They include portraits of Woizikowsky, Blinova and Kirsova and others, introductions to the art of the ballet, biographies of some of the artists including the baby ballerinas.
Cast list (File)
Provide a statement of the 'Program' of ballets and casts covering performances usually over four nights, commencing Saturday and Thursday evenings.
Some cast lists advertise Max Dupain's photographic exhibition of the artists and the Company: The magnificent collection of photographs of members of the Monte Carlo Russian Ballet, at present being displayed in the foyer of the Theatre Royal, are from the studio of Max Dupain.
Subseries. Seasons
Le lac des cygnes, 29 May 1937 - 2 June 1937 (File)
Les presages, Le spectre de la rose, Prince Igor.
Overture: Merry Wives of Windsor (Nicolai), 2 June 1937 - 5 June 1937 (File)
Les cent baisers, L'oiseau de feu, La boutique fantasque.
Overture: Merry wives of Windsor (Nicolai), 5 June 1937 - 9 June 1937 (File)
Les sylphides, Contes russes, Le beau Danube.
Overture: Merry wives of Windsor (Nicolai), 5 June 1937 - 9 June 1937 (File)
Les sylphides, Contes russes, Le beau Danube. Changes to dance order for Contes russes.
Overture: Rosamunde (Schubert), 9 June 1937 - 12 June 1937 (File)
Cotillon, Scheherazade, Le mariage d'Aurore.
Series. Tour 1: Melbourne, 19 June 1937 - 6 July 1937
His Majesty's theatre, return season.
Subseries. Publications
Souvenir book (File)
J.C. Williamson re-used the ballerina with the green hat as the cover for the souvenir book for the return Melbourne season. It contains 42 pages with page length portraits of de Basil, Woizikowsky, Blinova, Kirsova and Horenstein. There are smaller portraits of de Basil's representatives, Clayton, the soloists and the baby ballerinas. A title page lists the company of 43 members and two conductors. It includes articles, biographies of some of the artists and stories of the ballets included.
Magazine program (File)
The same two covers used for the first season were re-issued for this season. The first of a Baroque couple with a hovering cupid and the second of a ballerina with a green hat. Contents are the same as for the first season.
Programs of ballets performed are not printed in magazine program.
Subseries. Season
Le lac des cygnes, 19 June 1937 - 23 June 1937 (File)
Les presages, Le spectre de la rose, Prince Igor. NLA does not hold separate cast list.
Les cent baisers, 23 June 1937 - 24 June 1937 (File)
L'oiseau bleu, Le beau Danube. NLA does not hold separate cast list.
Les sylphides, 25 June 1937 - 26 June 1937 (File)
Port Said, Le spectre de la rose, La boutique fantasque. NLA does not hold separate cast list.
Carnaval, 28 June 1937 - 30 June 1937 (File)
Scuola di ballo, Petrouchka. NLA does not hold separate cast list.
Overture: Merry wives of Windsor (Nicolai), 2 July 1937 (File)
Carnaval, Soleil de nuit, Les presages, Le beau Danube.
Carnaval, 3 July 1937 (File)
Soleil de nuit, Contes russes, Le beau Danube. NLA does not hold separate cast list.
Series. Tour 1: Adelaide, 7 July 1937 - 14 July 1937
Royal Theatre, return season.
Subseries. Publications
Souvenir book (File)
J.C. Williamson re-issued the cover from the Sydney seasons featuring Norman Lindsay's scene from Scheherazade for this return season with the title: "Souvenir program 6d Colonel W. de Basil's Monte Carlo Russian Ballet".
Contains 32 pages and includes page length portraits of Woizikowsky, Blinova, Kirsova and smaller portraits of the other soloists, and Ivan Clayton. Biographies of them are also included as well as an article on de Basil by Arnold Haskell and stories of the ballets.
One copy includes Irena Bondireva's signature adjacent to her portrait.
Subseries. Season
Les sylphides, 7 July 1937 - 8 July 1937 (File)
Port Said, Contes russes, La boutique fantasque. NLA does not hold separate cast list.
Thamar, 9 July 1937 - 10 July 1937 (File)
Le spectre de la rose, Scuola di ballo, Prince Igor. NLA does not hold separate cast list.
Class. Tour No.2, September 1938 - April 1939
62 itemsCovent Garden Russian Ballet toured Melbourne-Sydney-New Zealand-Melbourne-Adelaide.
Note: (E) denotes an evening performance, (M) denotes a matinee.PersonnelDancers as listed in cast listsBallerinas: Kira Abricossova, Irina Baronova, Irina Bondireva, Alexandra Denisova, Tamara Grigorieva, Vanda Grossen, Irina Kosmovska, Raissa Kouznetsova, Lina Lerina, Ludmila Lvova , June Mackay, Vera Nelidova, Lara Obidenna, Sono Osato, Galina Razoumova, Tatiana Riabouchinska, Lelia Roussova, Maria Sanina, Lisa Serova, Nadia Smirnova, Natasha Sobinova, Kira Strakhova, Tamara Tchinarova, Edna Tresahar, Anna Volkova , Irina Wassilieva and Helene Wolska.
Male dancers: Gregory Alexandroff, H Algeranoff, Alberto Alonso, Lorand Andahazy, Boris Belsky, Edouard Borovansky, Serge Bousloff, Anton Dolin, Edouard Dzikovsky, Jan Hoyer, Serge Ismailoff , ?Ivanoff, Roman Jasinsky, Marian Ladre, Yura Lazofsky, Narcisse Matouchak, Paul Petroff, Dimitri Rostoff, Borislav Runanine, Simon Semenoff, Yurek Shabelevsky, Valeri Shaivesky, Edouard Sobichevsky, Oleg Tupine and Valentin Zeglovsky.
Dance staff"Ballets by Michel Fokine under his personal supervision"Choreographer: David LichineRegisseur-General: Serge GrigorieffAssistant Regisseur: Jan Hoyer
Music staffPrincipal conductor: Antal DoratiAssistant conductor: Vladimir LaunitzLeader of orchestra: Haydn Beck
ManagementEducational Ballets Limited, Chairman and Director of Company: Victor DandreManaging Director: G. SevastianovAssistant Manager: V. Grigorieff
Series. Tour 2: Melbourne, 28 September 1938 - 21 November 1938
Subseries. Publications
Magazine program (File)
The Magazine program for the Melbourne season varies from 50 to 54 pages. A sepia photograph cover of a scene from the ballet Francesca da Rimini is used for the season. The contents include "Stories of the ballets", short biographies of "Stars of the ballet" plus conductor Antal Dorati and small publicity paragraphs on the company. Photograph portraits of Irina Baronova, Tatiana Riabouchinska, Anton Dolin, David Lichine, Yurek Shabelevesky, Paul Petroff, Antal Dorati, Tamara Grigorieva, Roman Jasinsky and some group photos of other members of the company.
Cast list (File)
Cover programs of ballets with casts for periods of three nights, occasionally four. The program of ballets changed once a week.
Advertising (File)
Large advertising brochure for season. 4 page folder. Sepia tone photographs of stars and scenes from the ballets with listing of repertoire, stars, prices and ticket sales.
Small advertising brochure for part of season, October 6–27, includes ticket prices, repertoire.
Publisher's advertising flyer with scene from Les Sylphides with principal ballerinas Anna Volkova, Tatiana Riabouchinska and Vera Nelidova. One reproduced image from publisher's flyer advertising the book Ballet in Australia : from Pavlova to Rambert by Hugh P. Hall (1948).
Subseries. Season
Overture: Capriccio Espagnol (Rimsky-Korsakoff), 28 September 1938 - 30 October 1938 (File)
Les sylphides, Cendrillon (Australian premiere), Le mariage d'Aurore.
Overture: The Impresario (Mozart), 1 October 1938 - 5 October 1938 (File)
Le lac des cygnes, Symphonie fantastique (Australian premiere), Prince Igor.
Overture: The Impresario (Mozart), 6 October 1938 - 8 October 1938 (File)
Les dieux mendiants (Australian premiere), Petrouchka, La concurrence (Australian premiere).
Overture: Fete Poloniase (Chabrier), 10 October 1938 - 12 October 1938 (File)
Jeux d'enfants (Australian premiere), Choreartium (Australian premiere), Scuola di ballo.
Overture: La Cenerentola (Rossini), 13 October 1938 - 15 October 1938 (File)
Les femmes de bonne humeur (Australian premiere), Scheherazade, La spectre de la rose, Soleil de nuit.
Scheherazade replaced by Cendrillon, 18 October 1938 (File)
See Potter listing and advertisement in previous cast list). No separate cast list held for this matinee.
Overture: The Impresario (Mozart), 17 October 1938 - 19 October 1938 (File)
Jeux d'enfants, Le coq d'or (Australian premiere), Prince Igor.
Overture: Capriccio Espagnol ( Rimsky-Korsakoff), 20 October 1938 - 22 October 1938 (File)
Le lac des cygnes, Cendrillon, Protee (Australian premiere), Danses slaves et tziganes (Australian premiere).
Overture: Capriccio Italien (Tschaikowsky), 24 October 1938 - 26 October 1938 (File)
Cotillon, Les presages, Protee/ Orchestral interlude: Kamarinskaya (Glinka)/ Danses slaves et tziganes.
Overture: La Cenerentola (Rossini), 27 October 1938 - 29 October 1938 (File)
Les dieux mendiants, Le coq d'or, Bolero, La concurrence.
Bolero included in performances, 29 October 1938 (File)
According to Potter listing and advertisements in program. No separate cast list held.
Overture: The Impresario (Mozart), 31 October 1938 - 2 November 1938 (File)
Les sylphides, Bolero, Scheherazade, Le mariage d'Aurore.
Overture: Hungarian folk dances (Weiner), 3 November 1938 - 5 November 1938 (File)
Le lac des cygnes, Petrouchka/ Orchestra: Danze ed aria antiche (Respighi), Union Pacific (Australian premiere).
Overture: Fete Polonaise (Chabrier), 7 November 1938 - 9 November 1938 (File)
Symphonie fantastique, La spectre de la rose/ Orchestral interlude: Kamarinskaya (Glinka), Danses slaves et tziganes.
Overture: Fete Polonaise (Chabrier), 7 November 1938 - 9 November 1938 (File)
Les Cent Baisers, Symphonie fantastique, La spectre de la rose/ Orchestral interlude: Kamarinskaya (Glinka), Danses slaves et tziganes.
Overture: Midsummer night's dream (Mendelssohn), 10 November 1938 - 12 November 1938 (File)
Papillons (Australian premiere), Le coq d'or, Le mariage d'Aurore.
Series. Tour 2: Sydney, 25 November 1938 - 26 January 1939
Theatre Royal.
Subseries. Publications
Magazine program (File)
Magazine program for the Sydney season is consistently 48 pages. Two covers were used: one is a colour reproduction of a pastel/crayon drawing by Daryl Lindsay of a ballet dancer on stage. The other cover appears briefly towards the end of the ballet season, from 20 January onwards. It is plain white with brown lettering with the name of the company.
The contents include stories of the ballets, and biographies of leading dancers. Photographs of members of the company are more numerous than in the Melbourne magazine program and include Irina Baronova (a different portrait to the one used in the Melbourne season), Tatiana Riabouchinska , Antal Dorati, Anton Dolin, David Lichine, Tamara Grigorieva, Michel Fokine, Yura Lavovsky, Lisa Serova, Paul Petroff, Roman Jaskinsky, Vladimir Launitz, Anna Volkova, and Sono Osato.
Subseries. Season
Les femmes de bonne humeur, 9 December 1938 - 14 December 1938 (File)
Le spectre de la rose, Union Pacific.
Overture: Capriccio Espagnol (Rimsky-Korsakoff), 16 December 1938 - 21 December 1938 (File)
La concurrence, Le lac des cygnes, Petrouchka.
Les sylphides, 30 December 1938 - 5 January 1939 (File)
Le fils prodigue (world premiere), Cendrillon.
Les sylphides, 20 January 1939 - 23 January 1939 (File)
Le coq d'or, Le spectre de la rose, Danses slaves et tziganes.
Series. Tour 2: New Zealand, February 1939 - March 1939
Subseries. Publications
Souvenir book (File)
"New Zealand season 1939. The Covent Garden Russian Ballet." 32 page 'Program.' Cover illustration in red and brown, drawing of the interior of a theatre including tiered boxes and curtain. Contents include same biographies, and photos of principal dancers as used in Australian magazine programs. Also included is a photo montage of 17 portraits and scenes from performances and rehearsal under title "Come back stage and meet the famous Covent Garden Russian Ballet". Page 32 includes a reproduction of the Christmas card designed by Daryl Lindsay used by members of the company. It depicts koalas as dancers taking a bow on stage with a lizard as the conductor.
Repertoire for the New Zealand season is listed as comprising three programs:-Program No. 1. Carnaval, Le lac des cygnes, Cendrillon-Program No. 2. Les dieux mendiants, Scheherazade, Le mariage d'Aurore-Program No. 3. Les sylphides, Les presages, Union Pacific
Cast lists are included under each ballet. Itinerary of the New Zealand tour with dates and venues not given.
Program (File)
Cover title – Maurice Ralph presents a Group of the Covent Garden Russian Ballet late of the J C Williamson Theatres Ltd and Royal Opera, Covent Garden, London. 4 fold with insert of program (ie the repertoire). Photos of Valeri Shaievsky, Petruche Orlova, Raissa Kousnetzova and Eduard Sobichewsky, plus pianist Feodor Pellack. Two statements in the brochure record that this company toured to "the provincial towns" and the "the smaller centres" but the exact itinerary is not given. The program in the insert lists solos, and pas de deux from Les sylphides, Les matelots, Tarantella, Blue bird, Carnaval, Spectre de la rose, Sleeping beauty, as well as 8 other special dances and instrumental solos.
Advertising (File)
3-fold advertising brochure printed on both sides. Issued for the Grand Opera House, Wellington season commencing Saturday, 18 February 1939 for "…eleven nights and special matinees". Same cover and art work as the souvenir book described above, including the same photo montage but with one additional photo. One fold has three large photographs of scenes from Aurora's wedding, Les sylphides, and Scheherazade. Brochure includes ticket prices and booking information.
Single sheet colour reproduction "Daryl Lindsay's impression of a dancer". Dated "New Zealand 1939". Same image as used on cover of Sydney magazine program.
Single sheet on yellow paper announcement the presentation at the 25 February matinee, of Le spectre de la rose due to …hundreds of requests. Starring Paul Petroff and Tatiana Ribouchinska.
Series. Tour 2: Melbourne, 29 March 1939 - 12 April 1939
His Majesty's theatre, return season.
Subseries. Publications
Magazine program (File)
Magazine programs for the return Melbourne season vary between 34 and 38 pages. Text and photos of the company are variations on those already used earlier in programs on the tour. Two covers are used. One is a sepia photograph of a scene from the ballet Francesca da Rimini. The other is a colour cover with the head of a blonde woman, an orchid and string of pearls. This latter cover was used widely for other J.C. Williamson magazine programs at the time. In some issues there is an additional eight page insert advertising the London Casino Revue appearing at the King's Theatre from 8 April 1939.
Invitation (File)
Small slip of paper addressed "Dear Balletomane" inviting patrons to the "first entertainment sponsored by the Ballet Club of Victoria" at the Comedy Theatre on a Sunday,night (date not given). Dancers Dolin and Algeranoff "…have promised to attend ..." and to give lectures on ballet and Japanese dancing respectively. Loose insert in magazine program with season of 29 March – 1 April 1939.
Subseries. Season
Carnaval, 25 March 1939 - 28 March 1939 (File)
Choreartium, Le mariage d'Aurore/ Conductor Launitz for Le mariage d'Aurore.
Les dieux mendiants, 3 April 1939 - 5 April 1939 (File)
Symphonie fantastique, Le spectre de la rose, Les femmes de bonne humeur.
Series. Tour 2: Adelaide, 13 April 1939 - 26 April 1939
Theatre Royal.
Subseries. Publications
Souvenir program (File)
For the Adelaide season a 32 page souvenir program was issued. The cover was a reproduction in red and brown of an interior of a theatre seen from the stage with draped curtains and boxes (the same as the New Zealand cover). The contents included details of the company, photographs and biographies of dancers, conductors and key management personnel which had appeared in earlier programs.
Repertoire of the Adelaide season is listed as four programs which have been matched with the repertoire listed in Potter (based on advertisements in the newspaper The Advertiser (Adelaide)).
Cast lists appear for each ballet in the Souvenir program.
Subseries. Season
Carnaval, 13 April 1939 - 15 April 1939 (File)
Le lac des cygnes, Cendrillon. Program No. 1. listed in souvenir program.
Les sylphides, 17 April 1939 - 19 April 1939 (File)
Les presages, Le coq d'or. Program No.2. listed in souvenir program.
Les dieux mendiants, 20 April 1939 - 21 April 1939 (File)
Union Pacific, Protee, Le mariage d'Aurore. Program No. 3. listed in souvenir program.
Les femmes de bonne humeur, 24 April 1939 - 26 April 1939 (File)
Scheherazade, La spectre de la rose. Program No.4. listed in souvenir program. The souvenir program announces that "The final ballet on this farewell program to be selected by popular request". Potter lists the ballet selected and performed as Les presages.
Overture: The impresario (Mozart), 27 April 1939 (File)
Les sylphides (with Baronova, Riabouschinska, Dolin), L'apres-midi d'un faune (with Lichine), Bolero (with Dolin), Le lac des cygnes (with Baronova, Dolin, Ismailoff, Pierce), Jeux d'enfants (with Riabouschinska, Lichine), Le mariage d'Aurore (with Baronova, Riabouchinska, Dolin, Belsky).
Separate program issued-midnight performance. Farewell performance of principal artists.
NLA holds two versions: one on blue paper, one on cream.
Class. Tour No. 3, December 1939 - August 1940
68 itemsColonel W. de Basil's Covent Garden Ballet (also known as Colonel W. de Basil's Ballet Company and The Original Ballet Russe) toured to Sydney-Melbourne-Adelaide-Brisbane-Sydney. The latter title was used until the company closed in 1952.
Note: (E) denotes an evening performance; (M) denotes a matinee.
PersonnelDancers as listed in cast listsBallerinas: Maria Azrova, Tatiana Bechenova, Kira Bounina , Lydia Couprina Alexandra Denisova, Nina Golovina , Marguerite Gontcharova, Tamara Grigorieva, Irina Lavrova, Anna Leontieva, Tatiana Leskova, Helena Lineva, Ludmila Lvova , Natasha Melnikova, Olga Morisova, Genevieve Moulin, Vera Nelidova, Vera Nemtchinova , Lara Obidenna, Sonia Orlova , Sono Osato, Nina Popova ,Galina Razoumova, Tatiana Riabouchinska, Nadia Smirnova, Natasha Sobinova, Tatiana Stepanova, Marina Svetlova, Lubov Tchernicheva, Tamara Toumanova, Nina Verchinina, Anna Volkova , Irina Zarova and Lubov Zlatina.
Male dancers: Gregory Alexandroff, H Algeranoff, Alberto Alonso, Lorand Andahazy, Boris Belsky, Edouard Borovansky, Nicolas Ivangine, Vladimir Irman, Serge Ismailoff , Roman Jasinsky, Marian Ladre, Yura Lazofsky, David Lichine, Serge Lifar Narcisse Matouchak, Vassily Nicolaieff, Nicolas Orloff, Michel Panaieff, Paul Petroff, Dimitri Rostoff, Borislav Runanine, Igor Schwezoff, Georges Skibine, Sviatslov Toumine, Oleg Tupine, Serge Unguer, Kiril Vassilkovsky and Anton Vlasoff.
Dance staff Choreographer: David Lichne Regisseur-General: Serge Grigorieff
Music staff Conductor: Antal DoratiAssistant conductors: Max Goberman and Gabriel Joffe (for Sydney return season July-August 1940)
Management O.B.R. Limited: Chairman T.H. BischoffDirector: R.B. PopkissColonel de Basil's Ballet Company, Founder and Director General: Col. W. de Basil
Series. Tour 3: Sydney, 30 December 1939 - 13 March 1940
Theatre Royal
Subseries. Publications
Souvenir books (File)
'Souvenir completed by Claude Kingston'. Cover title "Souvenir Col.W.de Basil's Ballet. Australia-New Zealand 1939-40". Cover illustration in light brown of corps de ballet by Norman Lindsay. Printed by Peerless Press, Sydney? 38 pages. Inserted as the first page is a one page colour advertisement for the exhibition "Art for theatre and ballet" at David Jones. Design for advertisement by Loudon Sainthill. Page three has an etching by Harold Byrne of crowds arriving at a theatre – the name 'Theatre Royal' has been over-printed at the top of the page. Contains one page "Introduction" by Arnold Haskell on de Basil. No other text. Portrait photographs (63) of dancers and management. Photos of ballets in performance: Les sylphides, Paganini, Good humoured ladies, Protee, Symphonie fantastique, Aurora's wedding, Swan lake, Francesca da Rimini, Les presages, Choreartium. Centre spread contains a large montage of photos of the company on tour. A map of the Americas titled "The tour of 1932-1936" shows tours to locations in Canada and USA. A map of the rest of the world titled "The tour of 1936-1940" shows the companies' tours in Europe and to Australia and New Zealand, although the tour route and locations shown are not complete accounts of the antipodean tours. One other copy includes the words "Theatre Royal" on the back cover.Three copies held including one signed by several members of the company
A copy of the Russian ballet program for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, June-September 1938 was signed in Sydney in 1939 by members of the company who toured to Australia. 46 signatures are included. The program includes colour reproductions of designs for the following ballets which were all subsequently performed in Australia - Coq d'or, Francesca da Rimini, Symphonie fantastique, Choreartium, Cimarosiana, Jeux d'enfants, Les cent baisers.
"Art for Theatre & Ballet" souvenir season program for the Theatre Royal, Sydney. This program features "Many designs, Marquettes, and Costumes lent by Colonel W. de Basil" to the Exhibition "Art for Theatre and Ballet". The program includes a repertoire listing, portraits of all the principles and scenes from several performances. 38 pages [1940].
Magazine program (File)
Two covers were issued in Sydney. One featuring a brown photo of the corps de ballet in a scene (from Les sylphides?) credited to photographer Lionel Lunn. This cover bears the name "Colonel W. De Basil's Covent Garden Ballet". A copy of this Magazine program has a cast list for the opening program stapled in, and pages numbered in sequence. This was presumably issued for opening night, 30 December 1940. A second and more commonly used cover is a reproduction of a red painting of the interior of a theatre seen from the stage, with tiers of boxes framed by draped curtains. This cover bears the name "Colonel W. de Basil's Ballet Company from Royal Opera, Covent Garden. Australia-New Zealand 1939-40". Both magazine programs are 32 pages. Photographs include: portraits of Colonel de Basil, Antal Dorati, Serge Lifar, David Lichine, Tatiana Riabouchinska, Tamara Toumanova, Tatiana Stepanova, Tamara Grigorieva, Anna Volkova, Alexandra Denisova, Roman Jasinsky, Paul Petroff, Yura Lazovsky, Michel Panaieff, Dimitri Rostoff, H. Algernoff.
Cast lists (File)
Provide the 'Program' of ballets and casts covering performances over various periods, from one to six nights. Some cast lists have individual dates printed at the top of the first page – these dates have been noted.
Most complete set of Cast lists are held in the bound volumes at JCW/BS as indicated below.
Advertising (File)
One small sheet announcing the ballet Francesca da Rimini "For the first time in Sydney". Photo of Lubov Tchernicheva in costume, "Guest artist performing the role she created in this ballet". Loose insert in magazine program for 3 January.
Small brochure headed "The greatest ballet tour in history" which includes list of leading dancers, ticket prices, etc. Three copies with slightly variant texts and repertoires for different periods in the Sydney season held. Note: These advertised repertoires do not necessarily tally with the repertoire in the final cast lists.
Single sheet headed "Colonel W. De Basil's Ballet Company", comprising black and white portrait photos of Nina Verchinina, Olga Morosova, and Sono Osato. Loose insert into Magazine program for 5 January 1940.
One sheet advertisement/invitation for an 'Exhibition of art for theatre and ballet' at David Jones, George Street, 5 February "for one month". It consisted of "500 original decor, costume, setting and backcloth designs" from productions of de Basil, Vic Wells Ballet, C.B. Cochran etc… Artists represented include Benois, Beaton, Messel, Fedorovitch, Goncharova and the Australian Loudon Sainthill.
Single sheet headed "Memories of the ballet by Lionel Lunn", advertising the pictures of the ballet company by Lionel Lunn for sale in the foyer of the theatre. Inserted in JCW/BS vol. 28 as 7 March 1940.
Subseries. Season
Les sylphides, 30 December 1939 - 5 January 1940 (File)
Paganini, Le mariage d'Aurore. Piano solo in Paganini, Eric Landerer. Cast list covering all dates listed above included in magazine program, pages 15-18.
Carnaval or Les sylphides, 5 January 1940 - 11 January 1940 (File)
Paganini, Le spectre de la rose, Les femmes de bonne humeur. Piano solo in Paganini, Eric Landerer. NLA holds cast lists dated January 5-6 (E), 8-10 (M&E) JCW/BS vol. 28.Cast list dated 6 January (M) has Les sylphides as first ballet.
Le lac des cygnes, 12 January 1940 - 18 January 1940 (File)
Cimarosiana, Protee, Cendrillon/ Harp solo in Protee, Joyce Lang. Cast lists dated for all performances as listed above held in JCW/BS vol. 28.
Les sylphides, 19 January 1940 - 25 January 1940 (File)
L'oiseau de feu, L'apres-midi d'un faune, Prince Igor/ Flute solo for L'apres-midi d'un faune, Americo Gagliardi. Cast lists dated for all performances as listed above held in JCW/BS vol. 28.
Les dieux mendiants, 26 January 1940 - 1 February 1940 (File)
Francesca da Rimini **, Le spectre de la rose, Les femmes de bonne humeur or Le mariage d'Aurore or Cendrillon. Cast lists dated 26, 29-31 January (M&E) in JCW/BS vol. 28 have Les femmes de bonne humeur as last ballet; 27 January held in JCW/BS Vol.28 has Cendrillon as last ballet; 31 January and 1 February held in JCW/BS Vol.28 have Le mariage d'Aurore as last ballet.
Jeux d'enfants, 2 February 1940 - 3 February 1940 (File)
Choreartium, Cimarosiana. Cast lists dated Friday, 2 February held in JCW/BS vol. 28; cast lists for Saturday,February 3 (M&E) held as separates.
Paganini, 5 February 1940 - 8 February 1940 (File)
Jeux d'enfants, Choreartium. Cast lists held for dates listed above in JCW/BS vol. 28.
Le lac des cygnes, 9 February 1940 - 15 February 1940 (File)
Les presages, Protee, Le Danube bleu. Harp solo in Protee, Joyce Lang. Cast lists held for dates listed above in JCW/BS vol. 28.
Papillons, 16 February 1940 - 22 February 1940 (File)
Le coq d'or, Icare (word premiere) and Prince Igor. Cast lists held for dates listed above in JCW/BS vol. 28.
Le lac des cygnes, 17 February 1940 (File)
Le coq d'or, Protee, Le Danube bleu. Special performances in aid of Red Cross, cast lists held in JCW/BS vol. 28.
Les cent baisers, 23 February 1940 - 28 February 1940 (File)
Symphonie fantastique, Pavane (world premiere), Le Danube bleu. Cast lists for dates listed above held in JCW/BS vol. 28.
Les sylphides, 1 March 1940 - 7 March 1940 (File)
Graduation ball (world premiere), Petrouchka. Cast lists for dates listed above held in JCW/BS vol. 28.
Le lac des cygnes, 8 March 1940 - 9 March 1940 (File)
Scheherazade, Le spectre de la rose, Le Danube bleu. Cast lists for dates listed above held in JCW/BS vol. 28.
Le lac des cygnes, 11 March 1940 (File)
Scheherazade, Le spectre de la rose, Graduation ball. Cast list held dated 11 March at JCW/BS Vol.28 and as separate.
Le mariage d'Aurore, 12 March 1940 (File)
Les presages, Protee, Graduation ball. Note: Program decided as a "Result of plebiscite" with cast list held in JCW/BS vol. 28.
Midnight performance for Polish Relief organised by Col. W.de Basil and Polish members of the Company, 12 March 1940 (File)
Seventeen Divertissements performed including world premieree of Etude choreographique, Choreography by Verchinina to music of Handel. Program held as one folded sheet (4 pages), with line drawing on cover by Y.Lazowsky. Back cover lists members of the Committee for Midnight Concert.
Series. Tour 3: Melbourne, 14 March 1940 - 4 June 1940
His Majesty's Theatre.
Subseries. Publications
Souvenir program (File)
Cover title "Souvenir. Col. W. de Basil's Ballet. Australia-New Zealand 1939-40". Cover illustration in light brown of corps de ballet by Norman Lindsay. Printed by Speciality Press, Sydney? 50 pages. Back cover - Souvenir 'completed by Claude Kingston'. 11 pages of Melbourne based advertising. Inserted at page 8 is a one page colour advertisement for the exhibition "Art for theatre and ballet", "…to be held in Melbourne during the season". Design by Loudon Sainthill. Page three has one photo of the audience at the Theatre Royal, Sydney attending a performance of the company and another of the dancers taking curtain calls with de Basil. Contains one page "Introduction" by Arnold Haskell on de Basil. Inserted at page 34 is a half page, blue photograph of corps de ballet from "Les sylphides". Portrait photographs (63) of dancers and management.
Photos of ballets in performance: Les sylphides, Paganini, Good humoured ladies, Protee, Symphonie fantastique, Aurora's wedding, Swan lake, Francesca da Rimini, Les presages, Choreartium. Same photographs as in Sydney edition but presented in different order.
Centre spread contains large montage of photos of the company on tour. A map of the Americas titled "The tour of 1932-1936" shows tours to locations in Canada and USA. A map of the rest of the world titled "The tour of 1936-1940" shows the companies' tours in Europe and to Australia and New Zealand, although the tour route and locations shown are not complete accounts of the antipodean tours.
Magazine program (File)
42 pages with cover of blonde woman, orchid and pearls. Contains stories of ballets and portraits of leading dancers and personnel.
Subseries. Season
Les sylphides, 14 March 1940 - 23 March 1940 (File)
Paganini, Le mariage d'Aurore. NLA- Cast list for 20 March.
Le lac des cygnes, 25 March 1940 - 30 March 1940 (File)
Francesca da Rimini, Pavane, Le Danube bleu.
Cimarosiana, 1 April 1940 - 6 April 1940 (File)
Les presages, Protee, Prince Igor/ Harp solo in Protee, Adrian Bendall.
Les femmes de bonne humeur, 15 April 1940 - 20 April 1940 (File)
Symphonie fantastique, Le mariage d'Aurore. Note: Cf. Potter's listing which substitutes Graduation ball for Le mariage d'Aurore on 19-20 April.
Le lac des cygnes, 30 April 1940 - 1 May 1940 (File)
Francesca da Rimini, L'apres-midi d'un faune, Le Danube bleu.
Le lac des cygnes, 2 May 1940 - 4 May 1940 (File)
Paganini, L'apres-midi d'un faune, Le Danube bleu/ Flute solo for L' apres-midi d'un faune, Americo Gagliardi.
Le lac des cygnes, 9 May 1940 (File)
Divertissements, Graduation ball. Special charity matinee in aid of Royal Melbourne Hospital and Children's Hospital. NLA holds photocopy of original program held in National Gallery of Australia Research Library.
Carnaval, 13 May 1940 - 18 May 1940 (File)
Thamar, Icare, Cendrillon/Le coq d'or. NLA holds two cast lists issued for the period 13-18 May 1940One cast list announces season "For six nights…13-18 May" with Cendrillon as final ballet; another announces season "For three nights ..16-18 May" has Le coq d'or" as final ballet. Both cast lists direct patrons to "See dailies for Matinees".NB. Potter also notes that Le coq d'or replaced Cendrillon for some performances.
Les sylphides, 29 May 1940 - 30 May 1940 (File)
Paganini, Scuola di ballo/ Piano solo in Paganini, Erich Landerer.
Graduation ball, 3 June 1940 - 4 June 1940 (File)
Le coq d'or, Le mariage d'Aurore. NLA holds two cast lists issued for 3 and 4 June. One has order of ballets as Le mariage d'Aurore, Le coq d'or, Graduation ball; other is headed "Final performance" has order of ballets as Graduation ball, Le coq d'or, Le mariage d'Aurore.
Series. Tour 3: Adelaide, 5 June 1940 - 22 June 1940
Theatre Royal
Subseries. Publications
Magazine program (File)
24 pages. Cover has red scene of theatre auditorium from a stage as per Sydney and Melbourne Magazine programs. Includes stories of the ballets plus 30 portrait photographs of dancers and members of the music staff.
Cast lists (File)
Cast lists provide the 'Program' of ballets and casts covering performances over various periods, from three to four nights. Some Cast lists have individual dates printed at the top of the first page – these dates have been noted in the list which follows.
Advertising (File)
One sheet advertisement/invitation for an 'Exhibition of art for theatre and ballet' at the Australian Art Gallery, 97 Rundle St, Adelaide, June 18-July 2 – inserted into cast list for 22 June. It consisted of "500 original décor, costume, setting and backcloth designs from productions of de Basil, Vic Wells Ballet, C.B.Cochran etc… Artists represented include Benois, Beaton, Messel, Fedorovitch, Goncharova and the Australian Loudon Sainthill".
Subseries. Season
Le lac des cygnes, 10 June 1940 - 12 June 1940 (File)
Francesca da Rimini, Le spectre de la rose, Graduation ball.
Le pavillon, 13 June 1940 - 15 June 1940 (File)
Petrouchka, Graduation ball. Piano solo for Petrouchka- Dorothy Mendoza.
Les femmes de bonne humeur, 17 June 1940 - 18 June 1940 (File)
Les presages, Pavane, Le mariage d'Aurore. NLA does not hold cast list. Program taken from Potter.
Series. Tour 3: Brisbane, 26 June 1940 - 11 July 1940
His Majesty's Theatre.
Subseries. Publications
Magazine program (File)
24 p. Brown-sepia cover photo of corps de ballet [from Les sylphides?], photo credited to Lionel Lunn. Cover title "Colonel W. de Basil's Covent Garden Ballet." Cf. Title page reads "Colonel W. de Basil's Ballet Company from Royal Opera Covent Garden". Included stories of ballets and 31 photo portraits of dancers and musical staff.
NLA holds 2 versions of the Magazine programs. Contents of the stories of the ballets vary and advertisements differ.
Subseries. Season
Paganini, 1 July 1940 - 3 July 1940 (File)
Carnaval, Le Danube bleu, Le spectre de la rose. NLA does not hold cast list. Program taken from Potter.
Francesca da Rimini, 4 July 1940 - 6 July 1940 (File)
Le lac des cygnes, Protee, Le mariage d'Aurore.
Series. Tour 3: Sydney, 13 July 1940 - 21 August 1940
Theatre Royal.
Subseries. Publications
Magazine programs (File)
24 p. Red cover of reproduction of painting of a view of a theatre auditorium from the stage with ballerina peeking around corner of curtain signed 'Bernie Bragg'. Cover and title page reads: "Original Ballet Russe, Director General Col. W. de Basil".
One edition of the Magazine program has stories of the ballets and photo portraits of the company. Another edition has stories of the ballets on one and half pages with the remainder taken up with advertising for forthcoming attraction "Ice Follies 1940".
Subseries. Season
Les sylphides, 13 July 1940 - 17 July 1940 (File)
Icare, Les presages, Graduation ball. Cast lists held for 13 (E), 15, 17 (M&E) in JCW/BS vol. 29.
Le lac des cygnes, 18 July 1940 - 20 July 1940 (File)
Le fils prodigue, Le spectre de la rose, Scuola di ballo. Cast lists held for 18, 19, 20 (E) in JCW/BS vol. 29.
Cotillon, 22 July 1940 - 24 July 1940 (File)
Paganini, Le Danube bleu. Cast lists held for 22, 23, 24 (M&E) in JCW/BS vol. 29.
Le pavillon, 25 July 1940 - 27 July 1940 (File)
Paganini, Etude, Jeux d'enfants. Cast lists held for 25, 26, 27 (M&E) in JCW/BS vol. 29.
Le mariage d'Aurore, 29 July 1940 - 3 August 1940 (File)
Lutte eternelle, Graduation ball. Cast lists held for 29, 30, August 1, 2, 3 (M&E) in JCW/BS vol. 29.
Les sylphides, 5 August 1940 - 7 August 1940 (File)
Symphonie fantastique, L'apres-midi d'un faune, Les cent baisers. Cast lists held for 5, 6, 7 (M&E) in JCW/BS vol. 29.
Le lac des cygnes, 8 August 1940 - 10 August 1940 (File)
Thamar, Protee, Les dieux mendiants. Cast lists for 8, 9, 10 (M&E) in JCW/BS vol. 29.
Francesca da Rimini, 12 August 1940 - 14 August 1940 (File)
Pavane, Coppelia. Cast lists held for 12, 13, 14 (M&E) in JCW/BS vol. 29.
Carnaval, 15 August 1940 - 17 August 1940 (File)
Les presages, Coppelia. Cast list held for15, 16, 17 (M&E) in JCW/BS vol. 29.
Paganini, 19 August 1940 (File)
Coppelia, Le Danube bleu. NLA does not hold cast list. Program taken from Potter and advertisement in previous cast lists.