Autograph letter from the Russian painter and scene and costume designer, known for his extensive work for the Ballets Russes. 1 p. June 21, 1915. To architect and art critic Frantz Jourdain (1847–1935), Bakst writes (translated from the French): "Dear maître, I am very touched by your kind letter and thank you sincerely. I will act according to your advice. Until then, please believe my devoted and cordial sentiments. Leon Bakst." In very fine condition. 4.5 x 7 inches (11.3 x 17.3 cm).
Paris: Imprimerie Modern Style. P. Marmy. Oversize elaborate printed invitation to the 1911 Bal des Quat'z'Arts. The design by the French painter, illustrator and decorator H. Rapin, featuring a highly stylized illustration on Babylonian themes. 19 x 33 cm. Dampstained along the lower edge, left edge and upper margin chipped with a few small losses, else fine. Read More...
Original publicity photograph from the Great Performances series, broadcast information printed at bottom, showing the NYCB dancers Kay Mazzo and Peter Martins in Balanchine's great ballet "Stravinsky Violin Concerto." In fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.).
1961 New York City Ballet deluxe souvenir program, boldly signed by Balanchine opposite his full-page photograph and by dancers Melissa Hayden, Violette Verdy, and Arthur Mitchell on or opposite their respective photographs. Folio. 36 pp. Very fine.
New York City Ballet souvenir program, boldly signed by Balanchine on his full-page photograph where he is shown seated with his cat, and by dancers Jacques d'Amboise, Melissa Hayden, Violette Verdy, and Arthur Mitchell on or opposite their respective photographs. Folio. 40 pp. Very fine.
Original photograph of the great choreographer with the popular ballerina/choreographer and musical theatre actress who was his second wife. According the clipping attached to the verso, they are shown while attending the premiere of Pinocchio. Stamps and stickers on verso, small creases and marks to margins, overall in very good condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
Grouping of three original ca. 1910 postcard photographs of ballet dancers in costume for various unidentified productions, issued in Florence, London, and Moscow. Minimal edge and corner wear, silvering to top half of one postcard, else fine. Approx.3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.8 x 13.5 cm.) each.
A striking sepia-toned photo of Ballet Español Ximénez-Vargas, signed by all six members, including Roberto Ximénez and Manolo Vargas, the Flamenco dancers who founded the ensemble in 1955. A number of small creases and surface creases, particularly along the lower edge, otherwise fine. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm)
Hand-colored glossy Rotary Foulsham & Banfield of London postcard photograph signed by the great Russian dancers who are shown in a striking back-to-back pose. Unrelated message written to verso, dated 22 August 1913. In fine condition. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.9 x 14 cm.). Read More...
Incredible signed photograph of three members of the great Messerer/Plisetsky ballet dynasty rehearsing together, including Soviet ballerina and choreographer Maya Plisetskaya posing with her younger brother Azari and an unidentified second male dancer under the direction of Maya and Azari's uncle, Bolshoi ballet master Asaf Messerer. All four individuals have signed their names in black ink. Mounting remnants to verso, else in very fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.). Read More...
Original souvenir program for a 1945 performance of Leonide Massine's Ballet Russe Highlights, featuring an attractive color lithograph cover by Marc Chagall and signed to two pages by acclaimed dancer Igor Youskevitch, who has penned his name below two halftone reproductions of Maurice Seymour portraits. 32 pp. In fine condition. 9 x 12 inches (22.9 x 30.5 cm.). Read More...
Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo souvenir program, signed by dancers Alexandra Danilova, Nina Novak, Frederic Franklin (who has signed three different photographs!) and Gerard Leavitt. 68 pp. Fine. 9 x 12 inches (22.9 x 30.5 cm.).
Three Leon Bakst Satin and Rayon Hooded Capes from "Papillons," ca. 1914. In fine condition, formerly property of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Read More...
Sepia toned gelatin photograph of the important dancer, ca. 1912. Stamped "ADOLPH BOLM / 'THAMAR' / SERGE de DIAGHILEFF'S BALLET RUSSE" on the verso in violet ink. Right edge trimmed irregularly, small loss to upper left corner, light spotting, else in fine condition. 5.2 x 8 inches [13.2 x 20.3 cm]. Framed. Read More...
Bound collection of 6 concertinos for 4 violins, viola, cello, and basso continuo in score, copied from a manuscript at the Conservatoire de Paris, as prepared for and subsequently inscribed by Sergei Diaghilev. Long attributed to Italian Baroque composer Pergolesi, these pieces are a famous case of reattribution within the canon of classical music, having been identified in recent decades as the work of the Dutch composer and statesman Count Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer. Half a century before this musicological consensus had been established, Diaghilev wrote his opinion in an inscription on the cover of the present manuscript (translated as follows from the French): Read More...
Gouache and watercolor over pencil on paper laid down on board. Inscribed in Russian (upper left and lower left) and with a collector's stamp (lower right). 16.5 x 10.4 inches (41.9 x 26.4 cm). Matted and framed to 37 x 54 cm. Read More...
New York: Gertrude Hoffmann Company. 1911. Rare souvenir program for the 1911 American tour which was the first performance of the Ballets Russes repertory in America. Billed as “Miss Gertrude Hoffmann Announces Les Ballets Russes,” the program features a lushly printed cover illustration, writings about various dances and dancers accompanied by halftone photographs and drawings. 24 pp. Original cord binding. Wear to outer edges of original wrappers, overall in fine condition. 9.75 x 12.5 inches (24.8 x 31.8 cm.). Read More...
Berlin; Moscou; St. Pétersbourg: Édition Russe de Musique (Russischer Musikverlag G.M.B.H.). 1913. First edition. Upright folio. 1f., 89pp [PN] 196. Hardcover. Wrappers mounted over tan buckram boards. Corners of boards nicked, tape affixed to lower spine, two small holes to the half title, else clean and in a good state. DeLerma S3, p. 80. CPM 54 p.444; Kirchmeyer: "Kommentiertes Verzeichnis Der Werke & Werkausgaben Igor Strawinskys bis 1971," pp.115-126. The first edition of the corrected version, published within a year of the first version. The full score was not published until 1921. Read More...
Profusely illustrated 1929 program for the Opera Privé de Paris production of “Prince Igor” by Borodine. 9.5 x 12.5 inches. 28 pp. Nine tipped-in color plates, including a portrait of its star singer, Maria Kousnetzoff; and, by Konstantin Korovine, six character costumes and two stage sets. The color cover is by J. Bilibine. Also included are full-page portraits of Madame Alexandra Balachova and of baritone Michel Benois, as well as many smaller photographs of other participants such as orchestra director Emil Cooper and choreographer-dancer Michel Fokine (who, a few years later, developed the famous Ballet based on Prince Igor). The center pages somewhat loose from the staples, edges slightly chipped, but complete and overall in very good condition. Read More...
A beautiful bound volume of special issues and supplements to the Parisian theatrical periodical Comoedia Illustré chronicling the 1909–1921 seasons of the Ballets Russes, with many photographs and full-color illustrations relating to the legendary ballet company. A selection of souvenir programs (published as supplements to the magazine) and extracts from the magazine are arranged in chronological order; interspersed leaves with texts by V. Svetloff (Russian critic and biographer of Anna Pavlova) give further details of each year's productions. Ownership inscription of Osborne Robinson and exhibition loan details on front free endpaper, some marginal dust-soiling, original green silk-covered boards with pictorial inlay (from The Firebird) by Natalia Goncharova, rebacked in green morocco, modern cloth. Graphically interesting endpapers covered in the names of important Ballets Russes figures. Most pages unnumbered; over 200 pp. total. Four leaves with clipped and mounted prints and hand-written captions appear to be the addition of the previous owner, and are partially detached; binding otherwise sound. Binding somewhat sunned, with later restored spine and slipcase. Overall in fine condition. 10.25 x 13.5 inches (26 x 34 cm). Read More...