Serge Diaghilev and Les Ballets Russes: The Centenary Exhibition
From 19 May to 12 June 2009
The opening date has been chosen because on 19th May 1909 the very first performance of Diaghilev’s Russian Ballet was given at the Theatre du Chatelet, Paris. This exhibition will gather together original costumes from Diaghilev Ballets, costume and décor designs by the artists who worked for Diaghilev and who collaborated with him on these memorable productions: Leon Bakst, Alexandre Benois, Natalia Gontcharova, Mikhail Larionov, Nicholas Roerich and Naum Gabo.
The Exhibition will include Portraits of the dancers; Nijinsky, Lifar, Karsavina and Slewinsky and Massine. Also exhibited will be a series of original photographs of members of the Diaghilev entourage: Leon Bakst, Boris Kochno; as well as a very important original platinum print of Nijinsky by Baron de Meyer.
The Exhibition will feature a superb group of works on paper by Larionov and Gontcharova from the collection of the late Alexandra Tomilina (Larionov’s second wife).
Serge Lifar was one of the main dancers for Diaghilev in the period 1923-1929, the exhibition will include an important group of designs, portraits and memorabilia from the estate of Lillan Ahlefeldt which all relate directly to Diaghilev’s ballets. She was the brilliant dancer’s constant companion.
Julian Barran of Julian Barran Ltd has been closely involved with the heritage of the Diaghilev Ballet. His first job, when he started at Sotheby’s in 1968, was to help with the inaugural sale of Costumes and Back drops from the Diaghilev and de Basil Ballets. Subsequent sales from the treasure trove took place in 1969 and 1973. During his years at Sotheby’s Julian organised an annual Ballet Sale. In time he dispersed the collections of John Carr-Doughty, Leonie Massive, Anton Dolan, part of the collection Serge Lifar and as a finale, the vast sale, in Monte Carlo, of the collection of Boris Kochno.
In 1994 he oversaw the sell-out Exhibition of the Russian Ballet designs from the Parmenia Ekstrom collection and three years later he organised an exhibition of designs by Natalie Gontcharova.
Julian Barran
Julian Barran Ltd
Tel: 01963 350325