Presented by EDMUND Russon
OPENING PERFORMANCE OF
' DON QUIXOTE '
Ballet in Two Acts and a Prologue by MINKUS, arranged by LAURENT NoviKOFF
Relayed from The Royal Opera House, Covent
Garden
Artists :
ANNA PAVLOVA LAURENT NOVIKOFF
M. ZALEWSKI.
M. PIANOWSKI
FR . VARZINSKY
Mlles. HILDA BUTSOVA , STUART and Faucheux
.M . DOMOSLAVSKI
M . MAHKOVSKI
ORCHESTRA, conducted by EFREM KURTZ (First appearance iif England). Leader and Solo
Violin, ARTHUR BECKWITH
A PAVLOVA first night at Covent Garden is an occasion never to be forgotten by those who have seen it-and heard it. An audience as brilliant as any that ever comes together in a London theatre—enthusiasm sharpened by the long deprivation that London has suffered whilst the rest of the world has had its turn to enjoy Pavlova's incomparable artistry-the blend of familiarity and novelty with which one sees once again the first entry of the greatest dancer in the world -all these help to arouse an excitement that the microphone will register for the benefit of listeners tonight.
The ballet, Don Quixote, with which once again lime. Pavlova opens her season, is, of course, founded on the adventures of the mad knight whom Cervantes created centuries ago.
-The prologue shows the Don sitting in his library immersed in one of those vast and bulky tomrs of chivalrous romance that were the source of all his troubles. As he reads, visions pass before his eyes ; he is fired to a state of frenzy, calls for Sancho Panza, his squire, and, arming himself from head to foot, sets out in search of adventure.
The first act-which concludes the broadcast— shows a very animated street scene in Barcelona, with Don Quixote and Sancho Panza entering the crowd. Here the Don meets with his first opportunity for knight-errantry, for the inn-keeper's daughter is about to be forced into marriage with a wealthy suitor whom she detests, and his intervention results in her being allowed to marry the man she loves. ,
It is in this scene that Pavlova makes her first appearance, in the character of Kitry, the inn-keeper's daughter, in whose fortunes Don Quixote plays so beneficent a part.