Sotheby's is organizing an exhibition on «Russian ballet»
ARTinvestment.RU   04 августа 2008

Next year will mark the 100 anniversary of «Russian Ballet» SP Diaghilev. Auction house Sotheby's and the gallery Ravenscourt announced preparation of the exhibition devoted to this significant event in the artistic life of the XX century

Auction house Sotheby's announced the preparation of the exhibition, which will be organized in honor of 100 anniversary of «Russian Ballet» Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev. The original idea of this project belongs to the London Ravenscourt Galleries, specializing in Russian art. The exhibition will feature works from French, British and Russian private collections, as well as from museums and foundations.

The exhibition, which is given the name «Dance in the direction of fame: The Golden Age" Russian Ballet "», held in Paris. It can be seen about 150 paintings, sketches, costumes, decorations, drawings, sculptures, photographs, manuscripts and programs. Organizers seek to best display the key moments in the development of «Russian ballet», an incredible company that for twenty years of its existence, completely changed the traditional ideas about theater and dance. Honors Diaghilev and his associates continue to astound us today.

Initially, «Russian ballets» - of «Russian seasons abroad». «Russian Seasons» - annual statement of Russian opera and ballet in Paris (since 1908) and London (from 1912). The idea of «Russian Ballet» was born in St. Petersburg, but was implemented in Paris. The first troupe choreographer Mikhail Fokine felt that the dance - it is something more than a simple demonstration of the human body, and I want to dance first and foremost express their emotions. Diaghilev invited to his troupe of the best dancers of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg and the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. The second distinctive feature of «Russian Ballet» - the desire to cooperate to bring the best composers and artists. May 19, 1909 the premiere of the three productions - «Pavilion Armide», «Polovtsian Dances» and «feast» had «Russian ballets» success. Over the next twenty years Diaghilev troupe has not ceased to surprise the audience, introducing them with enchanting performances, among them «Sheherazada» (1910), «Petrushka» (1911), «The ghost of rose» (1911), «Parade» (1917) and « Blue Express »(1924).

In 1911, Diaghilev ultimately determine the composition of the troupe, and the «Russian ballets» went on a tour. They went to London, Monte Carlo and Germany, as well as in South America and the United States. As the «Russian Ballet» was an independent company, not tied to any particular theater, they can afford to freely travel around the world. But every year, the company always met Diaghilev season in Paris.

Diaghilev, who died in 1929, has had to work with famous composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Maurice Ravel (Maurice Ravel), Erik Satie (Erik Satie), Sergei Prokofiev, Manuel de Falla (Manuel de Falla), Vittorio Rieti (Vittorio Rieti). Even more impressive was the list of artists, create sketches of costumes and scenery for productions: Lev Bakst , Alexander Benois , Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich , Mikhail Larionov , Natalia Goncharova , Ivan Bilibin , Boris Anisfeld , Konstantin Korovin , Sudeikin Sergey , Pablo Picasso (Pablo Picasso), Henri Matisse (Henri Matisse), Georges Marriage (Georges Braque), Dereni Andre (Andre Derain) and Giorgio de Chirico (Giorgio de Chirico).

Many composers and artists who worked with Diaghilev, were foreigners. But all the choreographers were Russians. Thanks to «Russian ballet» the names of Mikhail Fokine, Vaclav Nijinsky and his sister Bronisława Nizynski, as well as Leonid Myasina and George Balanchine progremeli for the whole world. In the Diaghilev troupe performed the best dancers from Russia, such as Anna Pavlova, Tamara Karsavina, Alexandra Danilova and Serge Lifar, as well as dancers from other countries - Poland, Spain and America. Permalink Diaghilev Ballet Company dissolved in 1917. Most dancers have settled in the United States. In Europe, Diaghilev, together with E. Cheketti created a new company, which were Russian immigrants, as well as English dancers, a Russian think of names. Patrick Healey-Kay (Patrick Healey-Kay) was the Anton Valley, Alicia Marks (Alicia Marks) has turned into Alicia Markova, as Hilda Munnings (Hilda Munnings) - in Lydia Sokolov.

The exhibition, organized by Sotheby's, it would be possible to see the costumes, designs for which the French artist Andre did Dereni ( «Magic Shop», 1919) and Henri Matisse ( «Sond nightingale», 1920). Separately, is true of the costumes, invented by Lev Bakst. Bakst - the first scene, which became a worldwide celebrity. Creating sketches of ballet costumes, he was inspired by Oriental and Greek costume. Models that develop Bakst, not only admired the audience in the theater, but also influenced fashion trends.

In addition, the exhibition will look at the posters for the Diaghilev ballets - among other things, a poster depicting a Chinese magician, made by Pablo Picasso for the ballet in 1917 «parade», as well as the famous poster of «Ghosts of roses», 1911 done by Pablo Picasso.

The exhibition will feature sketches of costumes and sets by Alexander Benois ( «Pavilion Armide», 1909; «Parsley», 1911), Lev Bakst ( «Peri», 1912; «Blue God», 1912), Mikhail Larionov ( «Midnight Sun», 1915) and Natalia Goncharova ( «Firebird», version 1925).

Among sculptors, inspired choreography «Russian ballet», - Demeter Chiparus (Demetre Chiparus), Paul Philip (Paul Philippe) and Boris Fredman-Klyuzel. They are bronze statues of dancers can be seen at the exhibition. There will also be exhibited porcelain figurines of characters of the ballet in 1910 «Carnival», made by Paul Sherihom (Paul Scheurich). The public will present photographs of dancers (Tamara Karsavina in «Carnivals» and Vaclav Nijinsky in «Petrushko») and the letters exchanged by Diaghilev with Georges marriage (George Braque), Walter Nouvelles MOM and Georges (Georges Rouault).

Impressions of artifacts related to the «Russian ballet», Sotheby's will not be limited to: next to them at the exhibition will feature contemporary artists and works, inspiring legacy of Diaghilev, in particular the installation of a paper by Isabelle de Borshgrav (Isabelle de Borchgrave) and figurines made by the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg.

While it is not known exactly when the exhibition opens. The goal is to hold it together with the pre-screening work, which will be exhibited at the «Russian bid» Sotheby's in November 2008.

Sources: www.artdaily.org , artinvestment.ru