THE New Look, by Christian Dior,
has invaded the ballet. Picasso was asked to design a ballet and now Its Ballets des Champs Elysees has gone one further. The result 7Treize Douses. A gay carnival-like ballet-but with the dancers looking as if they are about to break into a " Can-can." Very clever acrobatically and artistic to a point. The French-particularly Parisiansare probably rapturous over it. but I imagine Pavlova would look a little doubtful. This company has twenty-five ballets in its repertoireoutstanding is their presentation of "Le Cygne Noir " by Irene Skorik and Jean Guelis this is ballet, whereas the " Thirteen Dances " and " Las Forains " are mostly acrobatic feats,
Gramophone Recordings
H.M.V.
BEETHOVEN Overture Coriolan Op. 62. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Wilhelm Furlwangler. DB 6625 MESSAGER Ballet: Les Deus Pigeons. Royal Opera House Orchestra, Covent Garden. Conducted by Hugo Rignold. (Four sides), C 3778/9.
Pucerter Nulla Silenzn, from 11 Tabarro, by Adami, Giovanni Inghilleri, and the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Alberto Erede. Also Perchc Non tiz'Ami Piti, by the same singer, with Emma Tegani. C 3772.
Chopin-Waltz in A flat major and Nocturne in B major, both played by Pouishnoff. C 3773.
Columbia
Chopin-Polonaise in A flat-part I. Op. 53. Pianoforte solo by Louis Keritner. DX 1502.
Gayaneh Ballet Suite. (Kachaturian) Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York, conducted by Efrem Kurtz. (Six sides). DX 1499, DX 1500, DX 1501.