[Ballets Russes] [Karsavina, Tamara. (1885–1978)]
Le Theatre No. 298, May 1911
Special number of the Parisian cultural magazine, focusing on the 1911 season of the Ballets Russes. No. 298, Mai (II) 1911. The decorative cover features a color image of Tamar Karsavina as the Firebird; featured inside are more photographs from The Firebird, including a frontispiece with Michel Fokine and Alexis Boulgakov as the frightening Koschei; a set design for The Firebird by Leon Bakst; photographs of Nijinsky in Scheherezade, Sophie Fedorova in Cleopatra, Fokine and Fokina together in costume, and Ludmilla Schollar curtseying in a tutu; and further texts and photographs on the theatre and opera performances of the season. 24 pp. Front wrapper detached, with a large diagonal tear affecting the image, and heavy edge wear to the front and back wrappers; internally fine; overall good. 11 x 14 inches (27.5 x 35.3 cm).While the 1909 and 1910 seasons of Diaghilev's troupe had consisted simply of a pick-up group of dancers on leave from the Imperial Ballet of Saint Petersburg, it was in 1911 that the impresario created the permanent troupe named the Ballets Russes and chose Michel Fokine as the chief choreographer. Ballets performed in 1910–1911 included Stravinsky's first commission, The Firebird, as well as Scheherezade, Petrouchka, Le Spectre de la Rose, and Swan Lake. (15583)
Program, unsigned Dance