Mikhail Larionov's Costume for a Buffoon in Ballets Russes' Chout (1921).
Chout (pronounced “shoot”) was Prokofiev's first completed ballet score for Sergei Diaghilev, written in two versions between 1915 and 1921. It is sometimes known as “The Tale of the Buffoon,” or simply “The Buffoon.” The story is based on a folk tale recorded by Alexander Afanasyev and is somewhat ridiculous and brutal. It involves seven buffoons who all murder their wives after being told by an eighth buffoon that he has killed his own wife and brought her back to life with a magic whip, and promises to do the same for them. When he fails to deliver on his promise, the other buffoons seek revenge. The principal buffoon is forced to disguise himself as a woman, and is chosen for marriage by a wealthy merchant. He escapes after swindling the merchant out of 300 roubles.
The first performance of the ballet by the Ballets Russes was on May 17, 1921, at the Théâtre Municipal de la Gaîté, Paris, with choreography by Fyodor Slavinsky and artistic supervision by Mikhail Larionov. The orchestra was conducted by the composer. It was fairly well received, however the London premiere on June 9 was bitterly attacked by audiences and critics alike. [Source: Wikipedia]
A small portion of the ballet with modern choreography by Alexey Miroshnichenko may be viewed on Youtube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=seIwWv705j4
I love the costumes and the explosion of color, which is still clearly influenced by the original avant-garde work of Mikhail Larionov. I wish the entire ballet was still available.
Mikhail Larionov's Costume for a Buffoon in Ballets Russes' Chout (1921).
Chout (pronounced “shoot”) was Prokofiev's first completed ballet score for Sergei Diaghilev, written in two versions between 1915 and 1921. It is sometimes known as “The Tale of the Buffoon,” or simply “The Buffoon.” The story is based on a folk tale recorded by Alexander Afanasyev and is somewhat ridiculous and brutal. It involves seven buffoons who all murder their wives after being told by an eighth buffoon that he has killed his own wife and brought her back to life with a magic whip, and promises to do the same for them. When he fails to deliver on his promise, the other buffoons seek revenge. The principal buffoon is forced to disguise himself as a woman, and is chosen for marriage by a wealthy merchant. He escapes after swindling the merchant out of 300 roubles.
The first performance of the ballet by the Ballets Russes was on May 17, 1921, at the Théâtre Municipal de la Gaîté, Paris, with choreography by Fyodor Slavinsky and artistic supervision by Mikhail Larionov. The orchestra was conducted by the composer. It was fairly well received, however the London premiere on June 9 was bitterly attacked by audiences and critics alike. [Source: Wikipedia]
A small portion of the ballet with modern choreography by Alexey Miroshnichenko may be viewed on Youtube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=seIwWv705j4
I love the costumes and the explosion of color, which is still clearly influenced by the original avant-garde work of Mikhail Larionov. I wish the entire ballet was still available.