|AT the head of the Polovtsien warriors in the dances from Borodin's
opera "Prince Igor," Bolm has to dance as well as to mime, and very
splendidly and fiercely he dances with his bow. This "Prince Igor"
ballet lasts only a few minutes, but in those minutes are crowded enough
energy, excitement, lightning swift successions of different movements,
true healthy barbarity (not the barbarity of decadence), and splendid
music to take away all words, all thoughts, but "wonderful"! But those
"Prince Igor" dances ought never to have been given without their
accompanying songs. It has been the custom lately to leave out the
singing, one of those omissions that matter.
[Illustration: 0066]
NOTE: An omission of mine that matters is that I have
recalled "Prince Igor" without mentioning the name of Sophia
Féodorova, who holds her own in astounding feats of agility,
as in fiery spirit with the adolescents in whose evolutions
she participates. The girl is a wonder at this man's work!