Diaghilev And the Golden Age of Ballet Russes 1900-1939

Super exhibition at the V&A looking at the work of Serge Diaghilev and his influential dance company the Ballet Russes.

The exhibition started with a good section putting his work into context looking at Russia, Diaghilev’s life to this point and ballet at the time. It was interesting to think that he began work just 19 years after Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty was premiered.

There was a magical section which showed various stages of set design for Firebird including squared up design and the real thing. It was magical to turn round and realise the real back curtain was there hung the full height of the gallery and creating a wonderful installation projection of the dance in silhouette against the designs. You then went round corner to Picasso front cloth of "Two Women Running on the Beach" for "Le Train Bleu".

Favourite pieces? A costume for the filmstar in La Pastorale which was a Renaissance bodice and short fringe skirt. Also an early purple dress for Scheherazade.

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