Australia Dancing - Francesca da Rimini

Francesca da Rimini

Seymour, Maurice: Edouard Borovansky as Girolamo with dancers of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 'Francesca da Rimini' [2], c. 1937

Research Materials | Other Resources

Francesca da Rimini, with choreography by David Lichine, premiered in London on 15 July 1937. Danced to music by Tchaikovsky - his Fantasy after Dante, Francesca da Rimini - it had designs by Oliver Messel and was structured around a libretto jointly written by Lichine and art historian and curator Henry Clifford. Performed by de Basil's Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, the cast was led by Lubov Tchernicheva as Francesca, Mark Platoff as Malatesta, Paul Petroff as Paolo and Eleanora Marra as the Nurse. Edouard Borovansky created the role of Girolamo, Malatesta's spy.

The work was brought to Australia by the Original Ballet Russe and was first performed in Sydney at the Theatre Royal on 26 January 1940. Tchernicheva, Petroff and Borovansky all danced the roles they had created in London. Dimitri Rostoff took on the role Malatesta and Vera Nelidova danced the Nurse.

Lichine restaged the work for the Borovansky Ballet in 1955. New designs were commissioned from William Constable and the production opened in Sydney in a program beginning on 25 November. It featured Jocelyn Vollmar as Francesca, Arvids Fibigs as Malatesta and Royes Fernandez as Paolo. Borovansky's old role of Girolamo was danced by Frank Salter and that of the Nurse by Aina Reega.

Many other productions of Francesca da Rimini have been created including Fokine's version to the Tchaikovsky score in 1915 and an Australian production choreographed by Valrene Tweedie to music by Liszt for the National Theatre Ballet in 1955.

Research Materials

Moving picture | Picture | All

Other resources

Find more about Francesca da Rimini in:

Internet - Google
Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
Pictures - Picture Australia