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The Ballet Theatre (New York) presents: Les Sylphides

on BBC Television

View in Radio Times

A ballet in one act by Michel Fokine. Music by Frederic Chopin, orchestrated by Benjamin Britten.
"Les Sylphides" was first presented at a charity performance in St. Petersburg in 1908 under the title "Chopiniana". It was later included in the repertoire of the Maryinski Theatre. It assumed its present title when the Diaghilev Ballet presented it during its first Paris season at the Theatre du Chatelet. Michel Fokine himself revised this master work for the Ballet Theatre.

9.5 app. Who's Who
A ballet party in which Leslie Mitchell is introduced to Lucia Chase, Administrative Director of the New York Ballet Theatre, and various personalities in the world of music, art, and ballet, who have been invited to the studio to watch the first television performance of Who's Who.

9.25 On Stage
(by arrangement with Ballet Associates in America Inc.). A ballet in one act by Mary and Michael Kidd.
with Nora Kaye, Alicia Alonso, John Kriza, Michael Kidd, Dimitri Romanoff and Muriel Bentley, Donald Saddler, Barbara Fallis, Diana Adams, Shitley Eckl, Fernando Alonso, Stanley Herbert, and Corps de Ballet. A Section of the Royal Opera House Orchestra (by arrangement with the Administrators of the Covent Garden Opera Trust), leader, Joseph Shadwick, conductor, Max Goberman.

Daydreams are exclusive to no one. Even during a ballet company's stage rehearsal there may be onlookers whose fancies and desires are so touched by the scene before them that they are wafted away from the position of mere bystanders, to more glorious realms. As witness a shy little girl who aspires to be accepted into the ballet company, and the handyman whose world is a round of sweeping floors and running errands.
With sadness and fascination, and perhaps, a touch of longing, they watch the rehearsal, and when all have departed the handyman in his simple, winning way, induces the girl to dance freely, thereby finally achieving her goal. She goes off happily with the ballet company, and leaves him alone with his broom on the empty stage.

Contributors

Writer/choreography:
Michel Fokine
Music:
Frederic Chopin
Orchestra conductor:
Benjamin Britten
Presenter (Who's Who):
Leslie Mitchell
Guest (Who's Who):
Lucia Chase
Writer (On Stage):
Mary Kidd
Writer (On Stage)/choreography:
Michael Kidd
Music:
Norman Dello Joio
Costumes:
Alvin Colt
Dancer:
Nora Kaye
Dancer:
Alicia Alonso
Dancer:
John Kriza
Dancer:
Michael Kidd
Dancer:
Dimitri Romanoff
Dancer:
Muriel Bentley
Dancer:
Donald Saddler
Dancer:
Barbara Fallis
Dancer:
Diana Adams
Dancer:
Shitley Eckl
Dancer:
Fernando Alonso
Dancer:
Stanley Herbert
Musicians:
A Section of the Royal Opera House Orchestra
[Orchestra] leader:
Joseph Shadwick
[Orchestra] conductor:
Max Goberman
Commentary:
Winifred Shotter
Television Presentation:
D.H. Munro
Assisted by:
Bill Ward

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