ELEONORA DUSE

Italian actress. Performed with great success in many countries around the world. Played in the play the son of Alexander Dumas, G. D′Annunzio, M. Maeterlinck, etc.

Eleonora Giulia Amalia Duse was born October 3, 1858 in hotel "Golden Gun" in Vidzhevano, Lombard town, situated at the time of submission from Austria.

Father of Eleanor, Luigi Duse was the last of the major representatives of Comedy dell′Arte. Eleanor′s father, Vincenzo Alessandro, passionately fond of theater and painting. His wife, Angelica Kappelletto, comes from a peasant family, had never acted on stage. Only beyond Alessandro, she sometimes became involved in performances.

Little troupe, which belonged to Alessandro Duse and his wife, had all the time kochevat from place to place, to starve and face eternal disorder vagabond life of the poor-actors.

In seven years, Eleonora Duse has travel all over the length and breadth of Lombardy, Piedmont, Venice area, Istria and Dalmatia. Not yet having learned how to say it had already taken the first steps on stage. Duse was the Kozetty in the "excluded" Hugo. After the death of twelve mother Eleonora, the daughter of kapokomiko (team leader), had to replace it in the theater.

Final approval for a young actress on the stage was 1 Aug. , 1879 after the execution of the role of Theresa Raken in the same dark drama passions of Emile Zola. In May 1881, Eleanor was married to actor Tebaldo Kekki.

Some critics compared with Duse Aimé Duclos, performer plays Dumas son. Eleanor immediately felt in her soul caught fire and the desire to continue its work after an interruption of premature death. Duse resumed "his wife, Claude," "Wedding Visit" Dumas son. Then made productions "Rural honor Verga. This laconic drama drew its simplicity of form and deep feelings of poetry: ". . . Two women - triumphant temptress and trusting little creature - seduction. Wine and wine arrogant shamefaced, cruelty and beauty impotence kindness. Two men, and none of them comes to the protection of victims. " The premiere performance took place on the stage "Karinyano" January 14, 1884. Many viewers were reached unspeakable delight.

A year later, during a tour in Rome, Count Primoli read a new drama actress Dumas son "Denise. " Duse seemed that the heroine of the play - that she, chaste, closed-adolescent girl. She immediately began to practice.

"Denise" was staged at the Theater "Score". After the last performance in front of the theater a crowd of spectators gathered encountered the emergence of the actress shouting: "Long live Duse! Long live our Duse "Noisy process Bengali lights triumfatorshu held up to the house.

In summer, it was Cesare Rossi left the company in South America. These first overseas tour began to Duse endless wanderings around the world. Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Buenos Aires . . . When she asked what she prefers, the actress replied: "Move. "

At that time, the share of Eleanor fell hard. The sense of connecting it to the actor Flavio Ando, inevitably led to a rupture with her husband. Tebaldo Kekki stayed in Argentina.

Photo — «Eleonora Duse»

She promised to repay his debts and take care of the contents of a small daughter, who remained in the custody of the father.

In March 1886 Duse created a "troupe of city of Rome, the director and which has become the prime minister Flavio Ando. Within six or seven years old actress took the lives of perhaps relatively smoothly. Moving from theater to theater, she of the play for the play has gained increasing popularity. Yarro Italian theater critic wrote: "It seems that all of that, notice it most peculiar is the gesture. In some scenes, particularly in the emotional, almost every word of it is accompanied by a gesture. I would say that its long arm - it is the wings of reason, which served her to convey to each audience the meaning of what she said . . . "

November 22, 1888, the benefit of Eleanor Milan Teatro Mandzoni, the premiere of "Antony and Cleopatra. " Performance Duse brought unprecedented success. However, the happy ending tour of Italy, in the following months she has been unable to find the home theater, which wanted to invite her. Therefore, once again went abroad, where almost a year to play at the scenes of Egypt and Spain.

March 13, 1891 was the first statement Duse in St. Petersburg. On the Small Stage Theater, she played in "Damé with camellias. Italian led the audience to cry over the painful experiences navzryd Marguerite Gautier. On the following evening gave "Antony and Cleopatra. " The hall was crowded. The same thing happened in all the forty-five performances, despite the elevated prices of tickets. That evening in the room was a young, AP Chekhov. On the night of March 17, that is, immediately after the play, he wrote his sister Maria Pavlovna: "I saw the Italian actress Duse in Shakespeare′s" Cleopatra. "I do not understand Italian, but she played so well that it seemed to me I understand every word. A great actress! had never seen anything like this . . . "

Then Duse performed in Moscow, Kharkov, Kiev and Odessa. Everywhere it was met with genuine enthusiasm. In St. Petersburg published a first Russian monograph on Duse, a famous painter Repin wrote her portrait, her autograph, reproduced with the charitable purpose, raskupalis hot cakes.

The first tour of Eleonora Duse in Russia lasted almost a year. Actress MA Krestovsky recalls: "Duse not get up, never put wigs, do not put a corset. She had such a strong creative will, that it served all of its essence: a look, lip, eyebrow, forehead, each movement. She had another feature - the props come alive in her hands: flowers, a letter from a beloved person, a wedding ring Nora - all these things were in her hands. But most importantly, that its different from all the actresses of the time - is that she played no role of the text and its subtext. KS Stanislavski came to this term, when it was put Chekhova. On the lips Duse you did not read the speech delivered by it, in her eyes - not designed for speech, but promelknuvshie thought. "

Duse asked all - and science, and literature, and just life. She ordered the books from different countries and on different subjects, including philosophy. Eleanor read a lot.

Photo — «Eleonora Duse»

Having played in several stage plays, Dumas son, she learned the French language and come from the author in a long correspondence.

In November 1892 in Berlin "Lessing-Theater" was the debut Duse in "the motherland" Zudermana. The next day, after the play the author wrote to his wife in Dresden: "It was a grand evening! It was my Magda, clean, bright . . . Now no one dares to offend her. Tell you about her art, I simply can not force. Our Magda sees it in an ideal world, besides adding to their thousands of discoveries and revelations of all . . . "

We know that out of respect for the majesty of the death of Eleonora Duse evaded show it on stage. And in the "homeland", she endured her father′s death scene Magda backstage and the audience knew what had happened only on the behavior of the actress, on the scope of its horror and dismay.

In January of 1893 Eleonora Duse arrived in New York. The first acquaintance with the city literally stunned her. ". . . and I saw a great city - it is an art critic wrote Ricci - anywhere wheels, carriages, shops and strange buildings, range obsession advertising, noise, and Screens . . . Not a single smile a living art, nothing, what could relax the eyes and soul . . . "

Duse performed in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Boston. It has not been to extend the tour, as had earlier entered into a contract with London′s′ lyrical tietr.

His international tour, she finished 31 Jan. , 1894 in Munich. Duse became recognized vlastitelnitsey doom of theatrical life in Germany. G. Hauptmann wrote: "For me it is a great actress, in fact, it is - the very embodiment of art. " At the time, was adopted by the term "transparency" which defines all the delicate, tender, vulnerable. Just the effect of transparency and reach Eleanor, especially when passing state of mind of women, broken lives.

In Munich Duse disbanded his troupe. To part with it, and Flavio Ando, who moved to the company Leygeba. Cast taught Eleonora touching address.

In September of 1894 on holiday in Venice, Angelo Conti presented Duse two poets - Gabriele D′Annunzio and Adolfo de Bozisa. Meetings in Venice, talk about art literally intoxicate Eleanor. It seemed that it was D′Annunzio create her work, which it will complete its journey worthy of art.

A few months later, during a short holiday in Venice, Duse once again met with D′Annunzio. They talked about art, about theater, about poetry, but their hearts have already concluded a secret treaty between.

Inviting the actor′s first role of Alfredo de Sanktisa, Duse went on a tour of Europe, all over her for a year from the end to end, then started the new tour of America. During the stay in the United States in 1896, the actress found the royal honors. In Washington, President Cleveland attended all performances of Duse and ordered her to decorate the toilet roses and white chrysanthemum flowers, which she most loved. Inventor Thomas Alva Edison, do not miss a single performance, offered to write to the last scene of the phonograph "Lady with Camellias. " Alas, the recording failed.

Photo — «Eleonora Duse»

In New York, Eleanor met with the artist Edoardo Gordidzhani and he offered to write her portrait.

1 June, 1897 Duse already was in Paris to stage "Renaissance. " The first show - "The Lady with the Camellias. " Despite the high price of tickets, the hall was crowded. The first three acts passed in the nervous atmosphere. The fourth act - apogee of suffering and unfortunate passion heroine. There was much Duse. And the hall was taken. The play ended with a thunder of applause. Among the enthusiastic audience heard a voice yelling Sarah Bernhardt, from their boxes along with all the screaming: "Bravo! Bravo!

At the request of Duse D′Annunzio wrote the play "Dream of the spring morning. " This performance also was a huge success. At the premiere of the President of the French Republic, arrived Felix Faure.

In July 1897 Duse parted with his beautiful apartment in Venice and moved to a modest villa in Settinyano, near Florence. In March next year, it was a neighbor of D′Annunzio, settled in Kapponchine. It was then that he christened cabin Duse name Portsiunkola.

The actress has played successfully in the "Motherland", "second wife" Pinero, "Traktirschitse" and "wife Claude. " It is always different, always new, always original.

Jun 12, 1898 the name was given the Eleanor Duse Bologna theater "Brunetti. "We would like to become a true temple of art" - she said Messenger, told her that a pleasant thing.

In September 1899, together with the troupe Luigi Rasi, she went on a tour of Switzerland, Germany, Romania, Hungary and Austria. Duse wrote to D′Annunzio of Vichy: ". . . Here I have in the open sea, the hotel ever again . . . Have you worked. Blessed be the Lord, that sends you! . . fleeting life. Do not linger on your same path . . . "And, while he his boundless loyalty, adds:" . . . I would like to give you all my life, to help overcome the fact that you must not die - your generosity . . . "

Now Duse plays mostly plays his friend. "Mona Lisa", "Dead City", "Francesca da Rimini . . . In the preface to the tragedy of "Francesca da Rimini" D′Annunzio spent it the following lines: "That she calls my bow, roll a new hair pulled and re-covered the rosin that powerful sound issued . . . " And finally exclaimed : "Let the eternal caches in your soul trembles, negasim, the sacred fire. "

Eleanor spent the whole two-year repertoire, which consists almost entirely of his plays. Persistent hostility to the public plays D′Annunzio for Duse created a financial hardship, so that she eventually had to include in its repertoire a few plays, providing a true success. Meanwhile, the D′Annunzio for the twenty-eight days, wrote his best work for the theater - "Daughter of Iorio.

Premiere of "Daughters Iorio was appointed as at 2 March 1904 in the Milan theater" Lyric. " Duse has asked to postpone the premiere of a few days. Here D′Annunzio, pushes look, refused to move the premiere date and requested the primary role of Irma Gramatika.

Following the success of "Daughters Iorio Italian public became relevant to D′Annunzio plays with great confidence.

Photo — «Eleonora Duse»

Duse telegraph from Rome his girlfriend Emma Gartses: "The expected and defeated expiate all . . . It is either the date is not delayed, the true consolation. It should have been. " She has always believed in the success of his dramas, seven years lived this belief, donating his time for her, fame, money, wishing to erect a pedestal for his art. Playing almost exclusively in the plays D′Annunzio, Duse was left with no money, no repertoire, and moreover - seriously ill. Upon being satisfied that the poet is no longer needed, it is to break with him forever.

"Stop in the art - which means to step back," - she said. Update or death, "- such was her creed. Duse turned to the works of Shelley. "What better name - Shelley! He loved life, not deforming with truth. " She read Euripides. Then find and choose to set a "Monnou Whannou" Maeterlinck by Adolfo de Bozis translates it into Italian.

In May 1904, Duse season begins in Milan theater "lyrics. " It puts "lady with the camellias," Doll′s House "and" Monnou Whannou. In one of the reviews on her statement, Leporello has stated that "the romantic heroine Marguerite Gautier Duse acquired through a new flavor of youth and elegance. " The merit is that Marguerite pomolodela Duse, partly owned by, of course, Jean-Philippe Vortu. Duse became acquainted with him during his stay in Paris in 1897. Since then, he lives for her devoted friend, selfless, and the hot assistant.

Success on stage and well as charges that contributed to the fact that it appears again the taste for life: she dresses elegantly, met with friends, is among the writers and artists, providing protection for young and little known.

Duse playing in London. On the stage "Waldorf-tietr" she had made in the "second wife". The success was phenomenal. Bernard Shaw wrote: "Duse led to believe that the diversity of her poses and beautiful movements inexhaustible. All the ideas, the slightest shade of thought and sentiment expressed by a very thin and at the same time, visibly . . .

For four years Duse plays mostly abroad, and almost exclusively in Ibsen plays - in "Rosmersholme, Gedde Gabler," "A woman from the sea," Finally, "Yune Gabriele Borkmane. Ibsen was a genius of its kind, its beacon, support in her difficult life.

"Someone from the other actresses could probably play Geddu with greater accuracy. But neither one of them was never able to rise to those heights, which rises to Duse "- wrote a famous German critic Alfred Kerr. Maybe Geddy alone in her hatred of the world philistinism Eleonora seen some reflection of her own spiritual drama.

"All of life was for me to debut - Duse once remarked - and after the performance in Berlin, I was able to say what I think will no longer be able to say:" Perfume Rosmerov, oblagorazhivaya soul, destroy happiness, "-- After that I vowed in his heart that will go from the scene. "However, for practical reasons, she continued to tour. 1 February, 1909 Duse played in" A woman from the sea. "The play went under the endless applause.

Photo — «Eleonora Duse»

Then she went to Berlin and after a few performances at the zenith of fame left the scene.

Duse, without much success trying to create at his own expense "Library for the actress. " During the war, it sent soldiers to books, clothes and much more, and in 1916 went to the area of hostilities, to act in "front-line theater. When the scheme collapsed, Duse helped soldiers write letters, care for the wounded.

In the same year, Eleonora Duse at the request of actor Febo Mari and "Ambrosia-film acted in the film" Ashes. " "This work is full of charm for me, and I take for it with such passion. As much as I could to five years to forget about his soul "- the actress wrote. During filming, she is most afraid of "big plans", which she always seemed a sentence and molila to be left in the shadows, filmed in the manner of Griffith without underlined angles.

After the war Duse moved to England, to the daughter. But left with little funds, returned to the theater.

She refused to Grima and hair. "I appear before the audience, not hiding his face, which they see traces of fatigue, did not hide their wrinkles and gray hairs. If they take me to this, what I am, I will be glad and happy. If not, I will come back again in his solitude, "- said Duse.

The first show - "A woman from the sea" - held on 5 May 1921 in Turin. When you see Duse entire room rose from their seats, and this was a storm of applause, moved that the actress a few seconds, could not come to you. The same happened in the end of the play. It was a memorable triumph that accompanied Duse and Milan, and Genoa, and Rome.

Again - the tour. "To die, you want to live" - she wrote in a letter and accepted the invitation to speak in London. This was followed by Vienna and the last tour of America.

In New York, met her as a queen - a huge movement in the streets of the city down, missing her car, en route to the hotel "Majestic", accompanied by an honorary escort mounted police.

On the first play - "A woman from the sea" - a huge hall of the Metropolitan, was crowded. Duse went without Grim, a gray . . . The audience stayed at a loss . . . But at the first sound of her voice went up tremendous applause and shouts: "Long live Duse! Bravo! " And after a few minutes - recalls the German actress Irena Trichet - snow has been forgotten, and all spiritual beauty Duse stood in all its splendor. Success was crazy, this success, she still did not have in America, even when young. "

5 Apr. , 1924, came to play in Pittsburgh, an actress, because of a fatal error the driver, was at the theater too early. The doors were locked, there was torrential rain. She felt bad, but still played. Final word plays Marco Prague "Closed Door": "One, One" - were the last words she on stage. The next day, Duse slegla. "Now I am not afraid to die, but do not leave me to die far away from Italy," - molila it.

In the Easter Monday April 21, 1924, in the hour of the night, Eleonora Duse has found an infinite calm . . . At the direction of the government body is a great actress brought to Italy and was buried in Azolo, between Montello and Grappa ", as she wished.