The Ballets Russes and Its World

This lavishly illustrated book surveys the dance, art, music, and cultural worlds of the Ballets Russes, the preeminent dance company that helped to define the avant-garde in the early part of the twentieth century. The book explores the life of founder Serge Diaghilev, his relationship with Igor Stravinsky and other famous artists who worked with the Ballets Russes, the legacy of the company in the United States and England, and much more.

A collection of essays held together by the commentary of a knowledgeable guide, this makes clear the impact Serge Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes had on the dance world. Dance historian Garafola's introduction sets it out clearly: although most of the original works of the company are no longer being performed, Diaghilev changed the entire context of what we now know as ballet. First, she notes, ``he transformed the character of ballet music, putting the final nail in the coffin of the specialist tradition exemplified by such composers as Ludwig Minkus and Cesare Pugni.'' He instead used music that was performed in concert, most notably working with Stravinsky on Firebird, Petrouchka, Le Sacre du Printemps. and Pulcinella (Prokofiev, Debussy, Ravel, Satie, and Poulenc were among other composers who benefited from Diaghilev's vision). Diaghilev also ``invented'' the one-act ballet, took costume and set design out of the hands of specialists and handed the entire production to one artist with a unifying vision, elevated the role of male dancers, and built on a classical foundation to explore new types of movement. In part one, various essays describe Diaghilev's background and the development of his aesthetic. Part two examines the evolution of dance through the Ballets Russes, including the influence of Isadora Duncan and others (in Elizabeth Souritz's essay), ``Firebird and the Idea of Russianness'' (by Sally Banes), and an examination of the Diaghilev/Stravinsky juggernaut; notes Charles M. Joseph: ``Diaghilev was a jumble of unlikeable traits. He could be utterly malicious in his treatment of friends . . . When crossed, he unhesitatingly sought vengeance against those foolhardy enough to question him.'' Finally, part three looks at how the influence of the Ballets Russes lives on, finishing with Nancy Reynoldss ``In His Image: Diaghilev and Lincoln Kirstein.'' (The late Van Norman Baer was curator of theater and dance at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.) Scholarly and wide-ranging, an enjoyable and worthwhile history. (color and b&w illustrations) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

As impresario, Serge Diaghilev marshalled the best of the artistic forces of the early 20th century in the Ballets Russes, which embraced not only dance luminaries like Nijinsky, Balanchine, and Adolph Bolm but also musical innovators like Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and Rimsky-Korsakov and visual artists like Picasso, Matisse, and Leger. Here, editors Garafola and the late Van Norman Baer have assembled a distinguished group of dance and music scholars and critics to assess the importance of the Ballets Russes. The 14 essays by noted contributors Joan Acocella, Nancy Reynolds, Charles Joseph, and others examine the history of the Ballets Russes, from Diaghilev's collaborations with Stravinsky to the genesis of such landmark ballets as "The Firebird" and "Les Noces" and the company's influence on English and American dance. Enhanced by numerous illustrations, a detailed list of Diaghilev's works, and an estimable bibliography, this book is highly recommended for all dance and performing arts collections.ACarolyn M. Mulac, Chicago P.L.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.