History and Culture: The exhibition “Diaghilev. Dress Rehearsal” opens in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow

4 October 2022
Source: Library of Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation

On October 4, 2022 the exhibition Diaghilev. Dress Rehearsal opens in the State Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow, New Tretyakov, Krymsky Val, 10).

The new exhibition project of the Tretyakov Gallery is timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary since the birth of the remarkable impresario Sergei Diaghilev. Art critic, organizer of exhibitions, article and book author, one of the creators of the association and magazine Mir iskusstva (World of Art) Sergei Diaghilev is best known as a ballet entrepreneur. The famous Ballets Russes made a real revolution in the theatrical sphere, its dancers and choreographers have created the ballet of the XX century, while stage designers set the principles of show decoration, still relevant to this day. Diaghilev understood the importance of a good advertisement and therefore always prepared the public to upcoming shows – open dress rehearsals, special performances for journalists, critics, important men, often determined the fate of a future play.

The Tretyakov Gallery’s holdings contain one of the most impressive collections associated with the Ballets Russes – with its shown and hidden sides. The exposition features sketches of costumes and decorations, photographs of ballet performances and rehearsals, portraits of choreographers Leonid Myasin, Serzh Lifar, Mikhail Fokin and famous etoile Tamara Karsavina, Olga Spesivtseva, Anna Pavlova, Irina Baronova and others, from the collection of Mikhail Larionov. At the centre of the exposition, there are original costumes to Diaghilev’s ballets based on the projects of Alexander Golovin, Lev Bakst, Natalia Goncharova, Nikolai Roerich, as well as decorations for one of the most popular show The Polovetsian Dances of Roerich.

The first display of these unique exhibits is a somewhat dress rehearsal for the future hall of Sergei Diaghilev, the creation of which is planned to happen in the New Tretyakov at Krymsky Val.

The exposition includes 13 scenic costumes, over 200 graphic works, photographs, materials of the Manuscripts Department of the Tretyakov Gallery and the ballet library of Mikhail Larionov.

The exhibition will run until February 3, 2023.