Passport to Paris

Book excerpt: The author calls himself a musical Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and here are his memoirs. This book is the story of a symphonic- vs. -stagestruck composer - born Vladimir Dukelsky in a small railroad station in Russia - who wrote a Diaghilev ballet, symphonic music praised by the critics, as well as numerous Broadway hits, including the score to Cabin in the Sky, and the ever-popular tune "April in Paris." Paris is the pivot on which these confessions turn - the full-blown Paris of Christian Berard and Jean Cocteau and "Les Six," of the ballet Russe under its incomparable impresario, Diaghilev. Vladimir Dukelsky fell in love with Paris. He writes vividly and longingly of his life there - of his plush and penniless days; his friendships and quarrels with Prokofiev, the Sitwells, Serge and Natalya Koussevitzky and a host of other luminaries; his encounters with Massine and Balanchine that opened the door to Diaghilev, a commission - and recognition. And then, America. It was the America of the golden twenties and "thirsty thirties" - it was the age that saw the Shubert Follies, the infant Theatre Guild, the movies ground out on Long Island - it was the heyday of Ethel Merman, Bea Lillie, Maurice Chevalier, Ginger Rogers, Noel Coward, George and Ira Gershwin and in all-star bill of other favorites. Popular music was popular as never before and Vernon Duke knew he had a knack for tunes. Through it all, Dukelsky pulled against Duke - acclaim mounted in Europe; battle was pitched in Boston with Koussevitzky; Evelyn Hoey sang "April in Paris" in Walk a Little Faster, which starred Bea Lillie; Hollywood nodded; Gershwin and Prokofiev each demanded another score. An irresistible lyricist hove on the scene in the person of Ogden Nash, with whom a lifelong friendship developed. It was a madcap merry-go-round of ups and downs, frantic friends, strong emotions involving a number of women. Vernon Duke loved every minute of it, and he writes with often startling candor both of his own checkered career and those of the figures he has known. This book beats out a lively syncopation of wit and gusto and off-beat memories, extending a handsome invitation to meet the theatrical and musical greats of the past three decades - and to share in the indefinable magic of the city everyone loves best. --Dust jacket.