Poster for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes advertising the programme at the Royal Opera Covent Garden for the last night of the season on Thursday 1st August 1912 featuring Le Carnival, Thamar, Les Sylphides, Le Spectre de la Rose, and Polovtsienne Dances from Prince Igor.

Letterpress poster printed in black and green by Miles, Wardour Street, headed ROYAL OPERA COVENT GARDEN LAST NIGHT OF THE SEASON THURSDAY AUG 1st at 8.30 featuring the details of the performers, creators and production staff of the five pieces performed that evening by the Russian Ballet starting with the 'Pantomime-Ballet' Le Carnival, followed by the 'Choreographic Drama' Thamar, the 'Romantic Reverie' Les Sylphides, the 'Choreographic Tableau' Le Spectre de la Rose, and Polovtsienne Dances from Prince Igor.

Acquired with the support of the Friends of the V&A

The poster is printed with the name of the Proprietors The Grand Opera Syndicate Limited; of the General Manager of the Royal Opera House Mr. Neil Forsyth, and the Managing Director Mr. Percy Pitt.

Le Carnival is credited as a' Pantomime-Ballet' in 1 act by M. Fokine, music by Robert Schumann, orchestrated by Rimsky-Korsakov, Liadov, Tcherepnin and Glazunov, scenes and dances by M. Michel Fokine, scenery and costumes designed by M. L. Bakst, scenery by M. Anisfeld and costumes by Mlle. Muelle. It lists the cast as Columbine - Mme. Tamar Karsavina; Chiarina- Mme. Piltz, Estrella - Mme. Baranovitch, Papillon - Mme. Nijinska; Arlequin - M. Nijinsky; Pierrot - M. Adolf Bolm, Pantalon - M. Cecchetti; Eusebius - M. Sergueiev; Florestan - M. Semenov; the Valse Noble - Mmes. Tcherepanova, Tchernisheva, Wasilewska, Kopytsinska Guliuk, Baranovitch; M. Bourman, Kobelov, Romanov, Warzynski, Rachmanov, Zailich, and the Philistines - Mmes. Julitzka, Ezereska, and M. Oumansky and Goudin.

Thamar is credited as a choreographic drama in one act by M. L. Bakst, music by M. Balakirev, scenes and dances by M. Michel Fokine, scenery and costumes designed by M. L. Bakst, scenery executed by M. Charbey and Soudejkine, costumes executed by Mlle. Muelle. The cast is listed as Thamar, Reine de Georgie, Mme Tamara Karsavina; Le Prince, M. Adolf Bolm; Amies de Thamar - Mmes Nijinska, Piltz, Tchernisheva, Wasilewska, Konietska, Kopytsinska, Klementovitch, Baranovitch I, Baranovitch II, Maicherska, Staszko, Tcherepanova; the Zerghins - Mme Kremnev, Bourman, Semenov, Kotchetovsky, Froman, Federov, Romanov, Rachmanov, Gavrilov, Zoboiko, Sergueiev, Kobelev; Servantes - Mmes. Kowalewska, Dobroloubova, Guliuk, Koultchytzka, Hohlova, Ezerska, Julitzka, Dombrovska, and the Serviteurs de Thamar - Mm. Warzinski, Zailik, Statkevitch, Kegler, Kostecki, Goudin, Oumansky, and Zielinski.

Les Sylphides is credited as a 'Romantic Reverie' with music by Chopin, dances and groups by M. Fokine, scenery and costumes by A. Benois, orchestrated by Glazounov, Liadov, Taneiev, Sokolov and Stravinsky. The dancers in the Nocturne were advertised as Mme. Tamar Karsavina and M. Nijinsky, with Mmes Nijinska, Piltz, Tchernisheva, Wasilewska, Tcherepanova, Konietska, Koultchytzka, Jezierska, Julitzka, Baranovitch I, Baranovitch II, Kopytzinska, Klementovitch, Guliuk, Hohlova, Houbert, Staszko, Maicherska, Kowalewska, Biber, Dobroloubova; in the Valse - Mlle Nijinska; in the two Mazurkas- Mme Karsavina and M. Nikinsky; in the Prelude - Mme. Piltz; in the Valse - Mme. Karsarvina and M. Nijinsky; in the Valse Brilliante - Mmes Karsavina, Piltz, Nijinska, and all the Corps de Ballet.

Le Spectre de la Rose is credited as a 'Choreographic Tableau' from a poem by Th. Gautier adapted by J.L. Vaudoyer with music by C.M. Weber orchestrated by Berlioz with scenes and dances by M. Fokine and scenery and costumes by L. Bakst. La Jeune Fille is danced by Mme. Tamar Karsavina, and Le Spectre de la Rose by M. Nijinsky.

The Polovtsienne Dances from Prince Igorare credited with music by A. Borodin; scenery & costumes designed by M. N. Roehrich; scenery by M. Anisfeld. The Fille Polovtsiennes were - Mmes. Sophie Fedorova, Dobroloubova, Wasilewska, Tcherepanova, Baranovitch I, Baranovitch II, Jezierska, Dombrovska, Goubert. The Esclaves were - Mmes Astafieva, Tchernsiheva, Biber, Kopytsinska, Klementovitch, Hohlova. Julitzka, Guliuk, Koultchytzka, Staszko, Pflanc, Maichereska, Kowalski; the General Polovtsien - M. Adolf Bolm; the Guerriers Polovtsiens - Mm. Fedorov, Rakmanov, Kobolev, Sergheiev, Semenov, Warzynski, Zailich, Umansky, Froman, Kowalski, Kostecki; Adolescents - Mm. Kremniev, Kitchetovsky, Gavrilov, Goudin, Zoboiko, and Bourman.

At the conclusion of the performance the National Anthem God Save the King was sung. The conductors were M. Tcherepnin and Thomas Beecham. The Stage Director was M. O. Allegri and the Principal Stage Manager M. S. Grigoriev.

The prices of the Private Boxes, Orchestra Stalls, Balcony Stalls, Amphitheatre Stalls and Amphitheatre are given at the bottom of the poster, with a note that the doors open half an hour before the performance commences, and the name of the printer Miles of Wardour Street.

1912 poster for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes advertising the programme at the Royal Opera Covent Garden for the last night of the season on Thursday 1st August 1912. The programme features the Russian Ballet 'organised by M. Serge de Diaghilew' performing Le Carnival, Thamar, Les Sylphides, Le Spectre de la Rose, and Polovtsienne Dances from Prince Igor. Letterpress, printed in black and green by Miles, Wardour Street.

S.1737-2014