LOPOKOVA LYDIA: (1892-1981) Russian Ballerina, wife of the economist John Maynard Keynes. An interesting autograph M.S., Lydia Lopokova, three pages, 4to, n.p. (London), n.d. (July 1929). The manuscript is a review of The Ball, a Russian Ballet at Covent Garden, which Lopokova prepared for publication in The Nation, and states, in part, 'After the throbbing "Prodigal Son" M. Diaghileff has presented us again with a sort of patisserie in a lighter vein; This time I find the a new ballet whose form it is difficult to understand, because it is so modern or perhaps because there is not much in it. The ingenuity of Balanchin's poses and movements is over-startling; there are so many different elements in his composition, steps and positions movements coming once and never repeated or developed, that they seem, sometimes, to lose significance'. Lopokova further expresses her views on the choreography ('lively, muscular and pretty - but not inspiring'), praises the dancing of Dolin and Danilova and criticises the music of Rieti ('too thin for the occasion') and also writes of the set design, 'The joy and beauty of this ballet is to be found in Chirico's décor. One could foresee that his talent would be suited to the stage, but the effects surpassed expectations. The vision to the eye is fascinating, chic and beautiful at the same time. This is the smartest ballet we have seen for many seasons'. She concludes with her thoughts of Boris Kochno, 'The public is getting used to seeing Mr. Kochno's name on the programme, but they may not appreciate how much the new ballets owe to him. He has played a much greater part in devising and putting on these ballets than used to belong to the writers of the scenarios. Though I do not like "The Ball" so well, I think that in "The Prodigal Son" M. Kochno has brought very important touches to the ballet, and one hopes he will continue along these lines, and perhaps, join with Balanchine to bring back some kind of new classical ballet which shall absorb the inspiration of the new technique in the same sort of way that the painters to-day have absorbed the lessons of Cubism'. With several light pencil annotations in an unidentified hand and also with various ink alterations (marked in bold in the above description), most likely in the hand of John Maynard Keynes. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

The Ball is a ballet written by librettist Boris Kochno to music by Vittorio Reiti and choreographed by Georges Balanchine. It was first performed at the Monte Carlo Opera on 7th May 1929 and was performed eight times during July 1929 at Covent Garden.

Boris Kochno (1904-1990) Russian Poet, Dancer & Librettist. In 1920 Kochno became Sergei Diaghilev's secretary, librettist and eventually main collaborator.