Australia Dancing - Presages, Les

Presages, Les

Hall, Hugh P.: Artists of the Covent Garden Russian Ballet in 'Les Presages' [1] , 1939

Les Presages, the first of Leonide Massine's symphonic ballets, was given its inaugural performance in Australia by the visiting Monte Carlo Russian Ballet on 23 October 1936 in Adelaide. Danced to Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony and designed by Andre Masson, it was one of the most popular and enduring works during the three tours by the Ballets Russes companies, receiving over 100 performances between 1936 and 1940. The 1936 opening night cast consisted of Leon Woizikowski as Fate, Nina Youchkevitch as Action, Valentina Blinova and Valentin Froman as Passion and Mira Dimina as Frivolity. At various times between 1936 and 1940 the leading roles were taken by Nina Verchinina and Tamara Tchinarova (Action), Irina Baronova and David Lichine (Passion) and Tatiana Riabouchinska (Frivolity).

In 1955 Yurek Shabelevsky choreographed a work entitled Fifth Symphony: Les Presages for the Borovansky Ballet. Some sources suggest that this work, which premiered in Melbourne on 22 July 1955, was 'little more than a carbon copy' of the Massine work and in fact Massine is reputed to have sued Shabelevsky and Borovansky for non-payment of royalities. Program notes for the Borovansky production, which was designed by William Constable, read: 'Shabelewski's choreographic interpretation is based on the composer's own initial idea and notes. As the latest addition to the Borovansky Ballet repertoire, it is an entirely new production wholly created by Shabelewski for the Australian theatre'. The press, however, referred to it as a 'revival'. Opening night leads were Jocelyn Vollmar as Action, Kathleen Gorham and Royes Fernandez as Passion, Eve King as Volatility (as the role of Frivolity was named in this production) and Paul Grinwis as Fate.

Les Presages received its world premiere in Monte Carlo on 13 April 1933 when the cast was led by Nina Verchinina as Action, Irina Baronova and David Lichine as Passion, Tatiana Riabouchinska as Frivolity and Leon Woizikowsky as Fate. It was revived in 1989 for the Paris Opera Ballet by Tatiana Leskova, who came to Australia to stage the Australian Ballet premiere of the work in 2007. This production was a feature of the 'Destiny' programme which, reflecting the company's involvement in the project Ballets Russes in Australia: Our cultural revolution, was presented as a tribute to Massine. On opening night, August 30, the role of Action was performed by Danielle Rowe, Passion by Olivia Bell and Adam Bull, Frivolity by Lucinda Dunn and Destiny by Damien Welch. This production was then performed by the company in London during its 2008 international tour.

Bibliography:

Mark Carroll, ''Let's Stage a Fight!': Massine's symphonic ballets in Australia', Brolga 26 (June 2007), pp. 15-26.

Footage of the Monte Carlo Russian Ballet performing Les Presages, filmed by Ewan Murray-Will, is available on line at the australianscreen site 'Monte Carlo Russian Ballet. Original Ballet Russe Clip 2: Les Presages'.

Read Anna Volkova's impressions of this ballet at 'Les Presages' on the 'Ballets Russes in Australia' website, also printed in Brolga 26 (June 2007), p.29

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