title: Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909-1929
author: Jane Pritchard
description: 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 (18721929), 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 Lon 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) <br />(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
zlib_text: 17:10 
  Introduction 
  00 
  Prelude 
  00 
  I 
  - 
   Charlaton 
  and 
  Charmer 
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  II 
  - 
  Disliked 
  Wherever 
  he 
  Went 
  00 
  III 
  - 
  Transition 
  00 
  IV - ‘We’ve really done something’ 
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  V 
  - 
  The 
  Only 
  True _ 
  Ballet 
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  Pos 11 
  1%
  
  VI 
  - 
  Dancing 
  in 
  the _ 
  Air 
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  VII 
  - 
  The 
  First 
  ‘Diaghilev 
  Ballet’ 
  00 
  VIII 
  - 
  The _ 
  Nijinsky 
  Affair 
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  IX 
  - 
  Diaghilev 
  is 
  Surprised 
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  X 
  - 
  The 
  Arrival 
  of 
  Massine 
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  XI 
  - 
  Dogleaf 
  in 
  America 
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  XII 
  - 
  A 
  Serious 
  Betrayal 
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  Pos 33 
  1%
  
  17:10 
  XIII 
  - 
  An 
  Unbelievable 
  Pageant 
  oo 
  XIV 
  - _ 
  Direction 
  de _ 
   Diaghileff 
  00 
  XV 
  - 
  ‘A 
  bit 
  of 
  a_ 
  genius’ 
  00 
  XVI 
  - 
  ‘Too 
  Marvellously 
  Clever’ 
  00 
  XVII 
  - 
  ‘Can 
  He 
  Jump?’ 
  00 
  XVIII - ‘Dangerous Today - Indispen- 
  sible 
  Tomorrow’ 
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  Pos 51 
  1%
  
  17:10 
  XIX 
  - 
  Envoi 
  00 
  The 
  Ballets 
  00 
  Bibliography 
  00 
  Notes 
  00 
  Pos 68 
  1%
  
  17:10 
  Introduction 
  Had Diaghilev not been born, Stravinsky, Debussy, 
  Ravel, Fauré, Poulenc, Auric, Milhaud, Prokofiev 
  would have written 
  g