Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909-1929 [Hardcover]

Jane Pritchard (Editor), Geoffrey Marsh (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2010

While the early 20th century was rich with creative energy, no one brought theater and dance to the forefront of culture quite like Sergei Diaghilev did with his extraordinary Ballets Russes. From 1909 to 1929, the Ballets Russes attracted the involvement of major artists, composers, and designers. Now,  this major book, published to accompany a retrospective exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, examines the origins, development, and long-term influence of the Ballets Russes and celebrates the centenary of their first appearance in 1909. 
Diaghilev's extraordinary company revolutionized ballet for all time. The book shows Diaghilev's use of avant-garde composers such as Stravinsky, dancers such as Nijinsky and Massine, and designers such as Bakst, Goncharova, Picasso, Matisse, and Chanel, and even a very young George Balanchine, all of whom helped to create true collabrations never before seen in the performing arts. works This beautiful book showcases artistic collaboration at its finest.

PRAISE FOR DIAGHILEV AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE BALLETS RUSSES

"The best accompaniment for the exhibition is the sumptuous illustrated catalog, edited by Jane Pritchard, who co-curated the exhibit along with Geoffrey Marsh. In its close-up details of costume, its black and white images of ballet and its lucid and intelligent texts, the book covers subjects that are not discussed in the museum show. This fascinating book should be on every ballet lovers’ holiday gift list."--Suzy Menkes, The New York Times

"The most newsworthy dance item in Europe during the remainder of 2010 is not occurring onstage. It’s an exhibition: “Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909-29” at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (through Jan. 9, 2011). " --Alaistair Macaulay,  Sunday New York Times 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Published to coincide with an exhibition curated by Pritchard at London's Victoria and Albert Museum, which possesses the largest holdings of Ballets Russes sets and costumes, this book highlights the artistic achievements of one of the most famous dance companies in history, founded by the great theater producer Serge Diaghilev (1872–1929), dubbed an enlightened despot with extraordinary artistic flair by collaborator/composer Stravinsky. Diaghilev, an aesthete and son of a landed nobleman, achieved acclaim as a curator of public art exhibitions and edited an avant-garde art magazine. But it was for his revolutionary, modernist ballet company that Diaghilev is best known, and the photographs in this book illustrate why, with images of his lead male dancers and choreographers, such as Nijinsky and Serge Lifar, who restored the male dancer to a central role; work by artists like Léon Bakst that revitalized stage design; and costumes that influenced fashion and furnishings (Le Train bleu featured both Chanel's smartly contemporary costumes and Picasso's triumphant drop curtain with two giantesses running hand in hand along the beach). Although the book's essays are somewhat disjointed, readers will savor the abundant photographs, which aptly demonstrate the creative process at work. (Nov.) (c)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Jane Pritchard is curator of dance at the V&A.

 

Geoffrey Marsh is director of the Theatre and Performance Collections at the V&A.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: V & A Publishing (October 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1851776133
• ISBN-13: 978-1851776139
• Product Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #355,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Luscious overview of Ballet Russes, June 30, 2011

By 

S. Smith-Peter (Staten Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909-1929 (Hardcover)

This is an oversized, full=color extravaganza on the history of Diaghilev and the Ballet Russes. There are chapters on the origins of the Ballet Russe, Diaghilev's biography, the production process, the collaboration of Leon Bakst, Natalia Goncharova and Pablo Picasso with the group, the amazing costumes, music, and the continuing influence of the Ballet Russes. I especially liked the many short (2 page) articles on very specific topics. It was enjoyable and made for a nice counterpoint to the long chapters. The photos, which are mainly drawn from the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, are beautiful. A gorgeous book!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reported to be excellent, January 29, 2011

By 

Jay (Sarasota, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909-1929 (Hardcover)

Joan Acocella writes in The New York Review of Books that this catalogue

is a wonderful book on the Ballets Russes, well illustrated, with first class

scholarship. It is the catalogue of an exhibit at the Victoria & Albert

Museum. That's enough for me. Just thought I'd pass this on.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diaghilev surprises us again., August 10, 2011

By 

Margaret Betz (Savannnah) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909-1929 (Hardcover)

IF you are looking for a lavish appreciation for the great Russian impressario, this is the place. He clearly saw his place in the decadent culture, at its apex in 1905 and shortly to pass from history. Wonderful illustrations of sets and costumes by Bakst and Benois and photos of the great dancers.