DIAGHILEV | letter signed, about the last productions of the Ballets Russes, and Stravinsky's "Petrushka", 1929

DIAGHILEV, SERGE

LETTER SIGNED ("SERGE DIAGHILEV"), TO M. CHAUVET, ABOUT THE LAST PRODUCTIONS OF THE BALLETS RUSSES IN VICHY, AND STRAVINSKY'S BALLET PETRUSHKA,

in French, enclosing the contract for the season at Vichy and asking that it be sent to M. Bonjean, explaining his ideas about the repertoire, promising to do his best to bring the ballets he requests, but explaining why Petrushka would not be suitable to be performed there, because of the large orchestra and the number of rehearsals that would be required ("...Quant à Petrouchka je pense qu'il sera très difficile de le monter à Vichy, car il demande un orchestre de 72 musiciens au minimum et un nombre considérable de répétitions d'orchestre et de scène--uniquement pour ce ballet..."), 2 pages, small 4to (c.17.5 x 13cms), the text by a secretary, printed stationery of the Grand Hotel, Paris, 15 February 1929

This letter dates from the final months of Diaghilev's life and relates to his last productions for the Ballets Russes, at the Casino de Vichy on 4 August 1929, including Falla's The Three-Cornered Hat and La boutique fantasque. Diaghilev died in Venice on 19 August. Although ill, he still took personal care of the Ballets Russes engagements. Stravinsky's ballet Petrushka, composed for the Ballets Russes in 1911, was one of Diaghilev's most enduring and demanding productions.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, 20 May 2005, lot 48

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