Klarinet Archive - Posting 000289.txt from 2010/07

From: "Lelia Loban" <lelialoban@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] 1916 Ballets Russes clarinetists?
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:14:24 -0400

This is a way-off-the-wall question [cross-posted on the bulleting board],
but if anybody can answer it, I'll bet you're here. Does anyone know where I
can get a list of the musicians, especially the clarinet players, for the
first Ballets Russes performance in the USA? Under the auspices of the
Metropolitan Opera, these performances took place at the Century Theatre in
New York City, with opening night on January 17, 1916. That's the night I'd
particularly like to know about. The company kept this engagement for two
weeks, then went on to perform in 17 cities, with two return engagements in
New York at the Metropolitan Opera House. There were personnel changes along
the way, but that opening series at the Century Theatre is the one I most
need to know about.

Ernest Ansermet travelled with the Ballets Russes from Paris. He conducted
the Century Theatre performances because at the time, the regular conductor,
Pierre Monteaux, was in military service in France. Monteaux later joined
the company and replaced Ansermet. For a later engagement at the Met (April
3-29), the concertmaster was Nathan Franko, if that helps, but I don't know
whether he was concertmaster at the January performances conducted by
Ansermet. I have a copy of the program (from the New York Public Library
website) and I've seen everything the New York Times published but haven't
even been able to find out whether the Ballets Russes brought the whole
orchestra along from Paris, or just brought the principal players and hired
locals, or what. Any help much appreciated!

Lelia Loban
http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/Lelia_Loban

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