BALANCHINE | autograph letter in Russian to Serge Lifar, together with a photograph signed, c.1927-1928

BALANCHINE, GEORGE

AUTOGRAPH LETTER TO SERGE LIFAR, ABOUT THE BALLETS RUSSES DE MONTE CARLO, TOGETHER WITH A PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED ("GBALANCHINE"),

1) the letter in Russian, signed ("Nerv[ous] Minuet”) and addressed to "Dear Melancholy Giant” about a dance number, asking how it went and if it was received well, mentioning Diaghilev and Leonide Massine, asking about their "joint project of genius" and whether Lifar managed to find any support for it, quoting a Soviet writer ("...All people are whores and the city is a stone-built bordello...") he asks several very direct questions of a sexual nature concerning his correspondent and Alice [Alicia Nikitina, Lifar's dancing partner], suggesting that he tells her that he, George, is dreaming of the place between her legs, informing him that he will write to the actress Lya de Putti (1897-1931), shares news of Pavel Yegorovich [Shcherbov] and Tilyusha, who has put on a ballet in Monte Carlo and asks to borrow a hundred pounds, assuring him that he will be able to pay him back with money lent to Diaghilev, 4 pages, 8vo (c.18 x 13.7cm), printed stationery of the Hotel Beau Rivage, Monte Carlo, no date, [c.1929-1931]

"...If you can, send me £100 direct to my Lloyds bank. Perhaps I'll be able to pay you back even sooner as I hope to receive [payment] from Mrs Mulen for an old S[ergei] P[avlovich] debt. They say that the costumes have already been bought by Myasin [Massine]...PS Have you written something to Lya de Putti. If not, then I'll write from us both something affectionate. Vsevolod will help me..." [translations]

2) the photograph signed, inscribed and dated on the image ("small but valuable GBalanchine..."), by Georges of London, c.13.7 x 8.5cm, in an envelope inscribed by Lifar ("Lettre Balanchine et photo pour Serge Lifar"), 23 July 1927. 

Balanchine and Lifar were the last great stars of the Diaghilev Ballets Russes, and performed many times at Monte Carlo both before and after the impresario's death in August 1929. Lifar had premiered several ballets choreographed by Balanchine in 1927-1929, including La Chatte, Apollon musagète and L'enfant prodigue. Alicia Nikitina was in Apollon musagète, therefore it is likely that this was their "joint project of genius". Whilst the reference to "an old debt of Diaghilev's" suggests a date after August 1929, Balanchine's letter cannot be later than 1931, when Lya de Putti died. It is not clear who was the "Vsevolod" that Balanchine intended to help him write the letter to Lya, but one candidate could be Meyerhold, who had negotiations with the Ballets Russes at this time.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, 6 December 2002, lot 9; Albin Schram; sale of his collection, Christie's, London, 3 July 2007, lot 281

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