Ballets Russes' Vaslav Nijinsky and Sophie Federova. Comoedia Illustre (June 15, 1910)
At the top of the pages are reproductions of Leon Bakst's set designs for "Scheherazade" (left) and the "Firebird" (right). Here is a link to a color photo of Leon Bakst's set design for Scheherazade:
www.flickr.com/photos/57440551@N03/10353200243/in/photost...
Sophie Federova (bottom right) danced major roles for Ballets Russes throughout its history. She joined Diaghilev's company in 1909 and her last performance was in 1928. Thereafter, she suffered the same tragedy as the great Nijinsky (bottom left). She drifted from one mental institution to another until her death in 1963. Her obituary read: "She lived quietly between outbursts of consciousness and delirium." [Wikipedia]
Sophie Federova is seen here in costume for her role in "Le Festin," a suite of classic dances performed in Ballets Russes first Paris season, 1909. Here is what Lynn Garafola says in the appendices of her book DIAGIAHILEV'S BALLETS RUSSES:
"LE FESTIN:
Music: A.Glazunov, M. Glinka, M. Mussorgsky, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, P.I.Tchaikovsky
Costsumes: Bakst, Benois, Bilibin, Korovin
Choreography: Fokine, Petipa, Gorsky, [Nikolai] Goltz, Felix Kshessinsky
Premiere: 18 May 1909
Principal Dancers: Vera Fokina, Tamara Karsavina, Vaslav Nijinsky, Sophia Fedorova, Mikhail Mordkin, Georgi Rosai, Vera Karalli
NOTE: Fokine choreographed the "Gopak" (Mussorgsk), "Trepak" (Tchaikovsky), and "Finale" (Tchaikovsky). The other dances were "Firebird" (the Blue Bird pas de deux from THE SLEEPING BEAUTY) and "Grand Pas Classique Hongrois" (from RAYMONDA), both by Petipa, "Czardas" (Glazunov), by Gorsky,"Mazurka" (Glinka), by Goltz and Kshessinsky, and "Lezginka" (Glinka), by Fokine after Petipa. The Blue Bird pas de deux was revived in 1915 as LA PRINCESSE ENCHANTEE, with scenery and costumes by Leon Bakst."
Nijinsky is wearing his costume from the ballet "Les Orientales" which premiered June 25, 1910 at the Theatre National de l'Opera in Paris. The ballet consisted of a series of oriental themed dances performed by soloists Vaslav Nijinsky (Danse Siamoise and Kobold), Tamara Karsavina (Assyrian Dance), Vera Fokina, Alexander Orlov (Saracens’ Dance), Catherine Gheltzer and Alexander Volinine (Pas de Deux). The dances were choreographed by Michel Fokine and Marius Petipa. The music was by Alexander Glazunov, Christian Sinding, Anton Arensky and Edvard Grieg.
Michel Fokine who choreographed Nijinsky’s Danse Siamoise may have been “inspired by a Thai Classical troupe, the Nai But Mahin Dance Company, that Fokine had seen in St. Petersburg in 1900.” [NY Times, Arts Section, June 24, 2010]
Ballets Russes' Vaslav Nijinsky and Sophie Federova. Comoedia Illustre (June 15, 1910)
At the top of the pages are reproductions of Leon Bakst's set designs for "Scheherazade" (left) and the "Firebird" (right). Here is a link to a color photo of Leon Bakst's set design for Scheherazade:
www.flickr.com/photos/57440551@N03/10353200243/in/photost...
Sophie Federova (bottom right) danced major roles for Ballets Russes throughout its history. She joined Diaghilev's company in 1909 and her last performance was in 1928. Thereafter, she suffered the same tragedy as the great Nijinsky (bottom left). She drifted from one mental institution to another until her death in 1963. Her obituary read: "She lived quietly between outbursts of consciousness and delirium." [Wikipedia]
Sophie Federova is seen here in costume for her role in "Le Festin," a suite of classic dances performed in Ballets Russes first Paris season, 1909. Here is what Lynn Garafola says in the appendices of her book DIAGIAHILEV'S BALLETS RUSSES:
"LE FESTIN:
Music: A.Glazunov, M. Glinka, M. Mussorgsky, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, P.I.Tchaikovsky
Costsumes: Bakst, Benois, Bilibin, Korovin
Choreography: Fokine, Petipa, Gorsky, [Nikolai] Goltz, Felix Kshessinsky
Premiere: 18 May 1909
Principal Dancers: Vera Fokina, Tamara Karsavina, Vaslav Nijinsky, Sophia Fedorova, Mikhail Mordkin, Georgi Rosai, Vera Karalli
NOTE: Fokine choreographed the "Gopak" (Mussorgsk), "Trepak" (Tchaikovsky), and "Finale" (Tchaikovsky). The other dances were "Firebird" (the Blue Bird pas de deux from THE SLEEPING BEAUTY) and "Grand Pas Classique Hongrois" (from RAYMONDA), both by Petipa, "Czardas" (Glazunov), by Gorsky,"Mazurka" (Glinka), by Goltz and Kshessinsky, and "Lezginka" (Glinka), by Fokine after Petipa. The Blue Bird pas de deux was revived in 1915 as LA PRINCESSE ENCHANTEE, with scenery and costumes by Leon Bakst."
Nijinsky is wearing his costume from the ballet "Les Orientales" which premiered June 25, 1910 at the Theatre National de l'Opera in Paris. The ballet consisted of a series of oriental themed dances performed by soloists Vaslav Nijinsky (Danse Siamoise and Kobold), Tamara Karsavina (Assyrian Dance), Vera Fokina, Alexander Orlov (Saracens’ Dance), Catherine Gheltzer and Alexander Volinine (Pas de Deux). The dances were choreographed by Michel Fokine and Marius Petipa. The music was by Alexander Glazunov, Christian Sinding, Anton Arensky and Edvard Grieg.
Michel Fokine who choreographed Nijinsky’s Danse Siamoise may have been “inspired by a Thai Classical troupe, the Nai But Mahin Dance Company, that Fokine had seen in St. Petersburg in 1900.” [NY Times, Arts Section, June 24, 2010]