PORTLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Willem Van Den Burg, Guest Conductor Presents The SAN FRANCISCO OPERA BALLET Willam Christensen, Director Saturday, November 26, 1938 — 8:30 P. M. CIVIC AUDITORIUM Portland, Oregon PROGRAM Don Juan Overture......................................................................................................Mozart Portland Symphony Orchestra II. BALLET IMPROMPTU Choreography by WILLAM CHRISTENSEN Music by JOHAN SEBASTIAN BACH (Suite in B Minor, No. 2) There has been no attempt in this ballet to "interpret" Bach, as the word interpret is conventionally used, nor to give this suite for orchestra conventional choreographic programming. The music has inspired an abstract conception (with rather free movement) within the ballet idiom, without consideration to any particular period. RONDEAU Merle Williams, Zelda Nerina, Maria Tovanya, Robert Franklin, James Starbuck, Jacqueline Martin, Nada Rayburn, Barbara Wood, Robert Keever, Grant Cristen, Zoya Leporsky, Peggy Bates. SARABANDE Maria Tovanya, Jacqueline Martin, Merle Williams, Zelda Nerina, Zoya Leporsky, Peggy Bates, Barbara Wood. BOURREE Ronald Chetwood. (1 and II) Zelda Nerina, Maria Tovanya, Nada Rayburn. POLONAISE Merle Williams, Ronald Chetwood. James Starbuck, Jacqueline Martin, Rorert Keever, Robert Franklin, Zelda Nerina, Grant Cristen, Maria Tovanya, Peggy Bates. MENUET Jacqueline Martin. BADINERIE Maria Tovanya, Zoya Leporsky, Merle Williams, Robert Keever, Jacqueline Martin, Zelda Nerina, Nada Rayburn, James Starbuck, Robert Franklin, Ronald Chetwood, Grant Cristen, Peggy Bates, Mattlyn Guvertz. INTERMISSION SEVEN MINUTES IN VIENNA Choreography by WILLAM CHRISTENSEN Music by JOHAN STRAUSS In two scenes, a series of light events in a Viennese day of the '70's follow each other in rapid succession. SCENE ONE An outdoor cafe. The ubiquitous waiter is rather overwhelmed by the prospective customers who fail to respond to his urging that they be seated. He makes a gallant effort to inveigle the ladies of fashion to a choice table but they scorn his efforts with upturned noses. Only the gay young Huzzar and his Lady of the Moment can be persuaded to partake of refreshments and even they disappear in the hilarity which follows the arrival of the street dancers who ruin business by poking fun at the fashionable ladies. The waiter is left in a dizzy whirl when everybody joins the street dancers in running after the discomfited ladies of fashion. Waiter....................................................................James Starbuck A Boulevardier..................................................Ronald Chetwood Coquettes ZELDA Nerina | Peggy Bates Ladies of Fashion..........................................Julia Randall Jacqueline Martin Merle Williams A Huzzar....................................................................Rudolf Gann His Love of the Moment............................................Jean Dalziel A Flower Girl..........................................................Maria Tovanya Nada Rayburn Street Dancers.. Mattlyn Guvertz Barbara Wood Zoya Leporsky SCENE TWO A ball in the home of a Viennese nobleman. The guests assemble, and the dance goes on. A ballerina is the guest of honor and dances for the guests, but the party is very nearly brought to an untimely end when the men become infatuated with the ballerina and shower attention upon her. The ladies insist upon making adieus and are about to leave when the street dancers, the Coquettes, the Flower Girl, a Young Huzzar and his light o' love invade the party. CHARACTERS: The Host......................................................................Earl Riggins The Hostess............................................................Norma Neilsen Guests...............Merle Williams, Madeline del Motte, Jean Gerlack, Grant Cristen, Robert Keever, Fred Staver, Ronald Chetwood, Robert Franklin, Wana Winnerholm, Julia Randall. The Ballerina..................................................................Janet Reed Street Dancers, the Huzzar's Lady, the Waiter, the Flower Girl and the Coquettes. INTERMISSION TWENTY MINUTES IV. ROMEO AND JULIET Choreography by WILLAM CHRISTENSEN Music by TSCHAIKOWSKY Dramatic Ballet in Three Scenes. SCENE ONE Capulets and Montagues alternately appear enroute to church. The note of conflict, result of the feud between the two families, is apparent even during this procession to the House of Worship. Three servants of the House of Capulet, young agitators who have accepted their master's feud as their own, offer defiance to retainers of the House of Montague. A fight is averted by the entrance of Mercutio and Benvolio, but soon Paris appears on the scene and there is immediate sword play between Mercutio and Paris. Benvolio enters the brawl on behalf of his friend Mercutio and engages Tybalt, who is returning from church, while Paris and Mercutio lunge at each other. A general fight ensues, which is stopped by Capulet. The opposing groups disperse. Juliet appears. Almost at the same moment Romeo comes upon the scene and there follows a tender love episode which is interrupted by the appearance of Tybalt, Juliet's kinsman. Infuriated at the sight of a Montague making love to a Capulet, Tybalt challenges Romeo, who refuses to fight a relative of his beloved. Mercutio takes up the challenge and is killed by Tybalt. Romeo is overcome by this, takes the fallen Mercutio's sword, and kills Tybalt in the ensuing fight. The horrified Juliet turns from Romeo, who leaves in despair. Juliet runs to Friar Laurence for aid and comfort. The good friar gives her a vial which contains a potion to encourage deep sleep. Juliet retires. Montagues and Capulets gather. Suddenly Paris appears with the unconscious Juliet in his arms. Apparently she is dead. SCENE TWO (A Street) Romeo inquires for Juliet from the passers-by. He is told that she is dead. SCENE THREE (The bier of Juliet) Juliet rests upon the bier surrounded by the death candles. Romeo casts himself upon her, believing that she is dead. He then swallows a fatal potion and falls senseless at the foot of the bier. Juliet revives, sees Romeo lying dead, and in heart-broken grief ends her life with Romeo's dagger. CHARACTERS: Capulet....................................................................Frank Morosco Juliet, daughter of the Capulets......................................Janet Reed Nurse to Juliet..........................................................Zoya Leporsky Benvolio, a Montague and friend to Romeo................Earl Riggins Mercutio, friend to Romeo......................................Grant Cristen Tybalt, cousin to Juliet......................................Ronald Chetwood Paris, young nobleman in love with Juliet..........Robert Franklin Romeo, son of the House of Montague........Willam Christensen Friar Laurence, a Franciscan Monk............................Rudolf Gann Servants of the Capulets....................Jacqueline Martin, Merle Williams, Peggy Bates Servants of the Montagues..........Jean Dalziel, Norma Nielsen, Dorothy Nieper, Maria Tovanya Attendants to Juliet..........Nada Rayburn, Madeline del Motte Ladies of the Montague Family........Mattlyn Guvertz, Barbara Wood, Zelda Nerina Friend to Romeo............................................................Fred Staver A Gentleman of the Capulets..................................Robert Keever Villagers........................................Julia Randall, Jean Gerlack, Wana Winnerholm INTERMISSION TEN MINUTES SKETCHES (Divertissement Ballet) Choreography by WILLAM CHRISTENSEN (a) Excerpt from Faust Ballet..................................................................................Gounod (Entrance of the Trojan Maidens) Merle Williams, Maria Tovanya, Jacqueline Martin, Zelda Nerina, Nada Rayburn And Corps de Ballet (b) Excerpt from Rosamunde Ballet......................................................................Schubert Merle Williams, Jacqueline Martin, Maria Tovanya, Zelda Nerina, Nada Rayburn, Ronald Chetwood, Robert Franklin (OVER) (c) "Helen of Troy" from Faust Ballet..................................................................Gounod Janet Reed (d) Dance Chinois from "Nutcracker Suite"............................-.....-...............Tschaikowsky Peggy Bates and James Starbuck (e) "Tarantella" from Rossiniana..........................................................................Respigni Jean Dalziel, Ronald Chetwood, Madeline del Motte, Wana Winnerholm, Barbara Wood, Jean Ger-lack, Robert Franklin, Grant Cristen, Fred Staver, Earl Riggins, Frank Morosco, Robert Keever, Zoya Leporsky, Mattlyn Gevurtz SAN FRANCISCO OPERA BALLET Franklyn Smith, Tour Director STAFF Willam Christensen, Director Armando Agnini, Stage and Technical Director Deane Crockett, Personnel Manager Lea Vergano, Marya Smith, Pianists COSTUMES—Decorations by Charlotte Rider. "Ballet Impromptu" and "Sketches" by San Francisco Opera Staff Costumers. "In Vienna" and "Romeo and Juliet" by Helen Green, Costume Director, Stanford University; Wardrobe Mistress, Inez Dodson. FOR PORTLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA William T. Pangle, Manager Aileen Brong, Publicity Director Portland's Leading Music Department Sheet Music for Students, Teachers and Artists -f- Victor, Brunswick and Columbia Phonograph Records •f Intelligent and Courteous Service ♦ YOUR MUSIC PATRONAGE IS INVITED The J. K. Gill Co. S. W. FIFTH AVENUE AT STARK