Diaghilev, Sergei (Pavlovich)

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Diaghilev, Sergei (Pavlovich)

Diaghilev, Sergei (Pavlovich), famous Russian impresario; b. Gruzino, Novgorod district, March 31, 1872; d. Venice, Aug. 19, 1929. He was associated with progressive artistic organizations in St. Petersburg, but his main field of activity was in western Europe. He established the Ballets Russes in Paris in 1909; he commissioned Stravinsky to write the ballets The Fire-bird, Petrouchka, and Le Sacre du printemps; also commissioned Prokofiev, Milhaud, Poulenc, Auric, and other composers of the younger generation. Ravel and Falla also wrote works for him. The great importance of Diaghilev’s choreographic ideas lies in the complete abandonment of the classical tradition; in this respect he was the true originator of the modern dance.

Bibliography

A. Haskell, D.: Hzs Artistic and Private Life (London, 1935); V. Kamenev, Russian Ballet through Russian Eyes (London, 1936); S. Lifar, S. D.: His Life, His Work, His Legend (London, 1940); S. Grigoriev, The D. Ballet (London, 1953); B. Kochno, D. and the Ballets Russes (N.Y., 1970); R. Buckle, D. (N.Y., 1979).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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Diaghilev, Sergei (Pavlovich)

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