Performance Database

Alternative title: à la Russe
Choreographer: Frank Staff
Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich
World premiere: 3 Apr 1938, Ballet Club, Mercury Theatre, London
Work note: This duet was often performed with Andrée Howard's 'Circus Wings' under the umbrella title of 'Two Gramophone Sketches' or 'Gramophone Sketches'. At its premiere, believed to be 3 April 1938, Staff's ballet was billed as 'à la Russe' and accompanied Howard's ballet (a solo), then known as 'à la Polka'. On 6 April 1938, Staff's ballet was listed as 'The Two Igors', the title under which it continued to be performed. It is possible that it premiered on 30 March 1938, with Howard's solo, but in the absence of a programme, the Rambert Archive cannot state the world premiere definitively.
Production note: Costume designer is unknown, possibly used 'Casse Noisette' costumes.
Number of dancers: 2 men
Music details: Recorded music: record played on a gramophone
Source: Programme and reference file in the Rambert Archive
Archive catalogue: WORK/0100

Performances

Date Programme Venue
3 Apr 1938
Evening 		The Strike of Wives (Lysistrata) | Croquis de ''Mercure'' (Sketches for ''Mercury'') | La Muse s'Amuse | Pas de Deux from Casse-Noisette | Étrange | à La Russe* | à La Polka Mercury Theatre, London
6 Apr 1938
Evening 		La Péri | Pas de Deux from Casse-Noisette | Étrange | Mlle Fifi | The Two Igors | Alcina Suite | La Muse s'Amuse Mercury Theatre, London
17 May 1941
After-lunch 		Overture | Shepherd's Wooing | Panaderos | Circus Wings | The Two Igors | Alegrias* | Interlude | Lady into Fox The Arts Theatre Club, London
29 Jun 1941
After-lunch 		Circus Wings | The Two Igors | Panaderos | Pavane pour une Infante Défunte* | Lady into Fox The Arts Theatre Club, London