The exhibition examine the origins, development and long term influence of the Ballets Russes, to celebrate their first seasons in Europe a hundred years ago. Diaghilev's extraordinary company, which survived a twenty-year rollercoaster of phenomenal successes and crippling problems, revolutionised ballet. As importantly, Diaghilev's use of avant-garde composers, such as Stravinsky and designers such as Bakst, Goncharova, Picasso and Matisse, made a major contribution to the introduction of Modernism.
curated by Jane Pritchard
The V&A’s major autumn exhibition, Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets
Russes 1909–1929, will explore the world of the influential artistic director Serge
Diaghilev and the most exciting dance company of the 20th century. Diaghilev
combined dance, music and art in bold ways to create ‘total theatre’. A consummate
collaborator, he worked with Stravinsky, Chanel, Picasso, Matisse and Nijinsky.
Diaghilev’s dramatic performances transformed dance, reawakening interest in
ballet across Europe and America. This major retrospective will celebrate his
enduring influence on 20th–century art and design and will include more than 300
objects from the V&A’s own unrivalled collection and from a variety of lenders. The
energy of the Ballets Russes’ performances will be brought to life through giant
backcloths, costumes, art, film and sound. Specially created films will be on show
throughout including footage of composer and broadcaster Howard Goodall
explaining the development of music that accompanied the Ballets Russes.
Treasures on show will include Picasso’s huge front cloth for Le Train Bleu, as well as
original costumes and set designs, props and posters by artists and designers like
Léon Bakst, Georges Braque, Jean Cocteau and Natalia Goncharova. These will tell
the story of a company which began in the social and political upheaval of pre-
revolutionary Russia and went on to cause a sensation with exotic performances
that had never been seen before.
The exhibition begins with Diaghilev’s life in St Petersburg. With an overview of the
dance scene he was set to transform, it will explore his early work in Paris,
displaying the magnificent costume for Modest Mussorgsky’s Boris Godonov worn
by Feodor Chaliapin. This gallery will include a rich array of costumes designed by
Bakst and tell the story of the Ballets Russes up to the outbreak of War in 1914. The
turban for Le Pavillon d’Armide and the gold and pearl tunic from Le Festin, both
worn by charismatic dancer Vaslav Nijinsky at the dazzling opening performance of
the 1909 Saison Russe will be displayed along with sculptures of him by Auguste
Rodin and by Una Troubridge. Radically choreographed by Nijinsky and scored by
Igor Stravinsky, the Ballets Russes’ 1913 production of The Rite of Spring
sensationalised Paris, causing a riot in the aisles of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
at its first performance. The first gallery will conclude with a group of nine
costumes designed by Nicolas Roerich for this very performance.
The second gallery will take visitors behind the scenes of the Ballets Russes’
productions - their inspiration, choreography, music and creation of the sets.
Nijinsky’s notation for L’Après-midi d’un faune will be displayed for the first time as
it was intended to be read, as will the musical score for Pulcinella by Stravinsky.
Another highlight will be a presentation of The Firebird, examined through a series
of designs for Goncharova’s coronation scene, concluding dramatically with the
actual backcloth. Pablo Picasso became an integral member of the Ballets Russes
during the War. His enormous front cloth for Le Train Bleu, dedicated and signed,
will be on show as well as a costume he designed for Parade. The exhibition will
look at how the Ballets Russes survived during the War having been cut off from
their roots in Russia with little access to the cities they performed in before 1914.
The final gallery will present Diaghilev and his company in the 1920s - a period
when he had achieved great status in European culture. The works of artists,
authors and musicians he knew or was associated with will be shown – including
manuscripts by Joyce, Proust and Eliot. There will be a large selection of costumes in
this gallery from the exotic – Léon Bakst’s The Sleeping Princess and Henri Matisse’s
Le Chant du rossignol, and the wacky – Mikhail Larionov’s Chout and Giorgio de
Chirico’s Le Bal, and the chic – Coco Chanel’s bathing costumes for Le Train Bleu,
Georges Braque’s Zephyr and Flore and Marie Laurencin’s Les Biches.
Mark Jones, Director of the V&A said: “Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes redefined
ballet. Our exhibition will tell the story of this groundbreaking entrepreneur and
artist. Diaghilev’s dedication to pushing boundaries and collaborating with the best
designers, choreographers and artists of his time left an inspiring legacy. The V&A is
delighted to be showing its unrivalled collection of Diaghilev and Ballets Russes’
objects in this timely exhibition.”
Image: Lydia Sokolova, Anton Dolin, Bronislava Nijinska, Le'on Woizikowsky in costumes for Le Train bleu designed by Chanel. Photo: Sasha1924
For Press information about V&A shop merchandise accompanying the exhibition, contact Lee Kendall on 020 7942 2681 or email press.office@vam.ac.uk
Opening 25 September 2010
Victoria & Albert Museum
Cromwell Road, London
Museum Opening Hours
10.00 to 17.45 daily
10.00 to 22.00 Fridays (selected galleries remain open after 18.00)
Closing commences 10 minutes before time stated
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December