Program for a charity performance featuring ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska, held at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Designed by Léon Bakst, February 4, 1904. Russian. Designed by Léon Bakst.
Program for a farewell performance of ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska (Матильда Феликсовна Кшесинская; 1872-1971), one of the greatest dancers in the Russian Empire in the 19th and early 20th centuries, providing extensive details about the cast, dance pieces presented in the performance, set and costume designers, and musicians.
The farewell performance for Kschessinska, whose proceeds were designated for charitable purposes, took place on February 4, 1904, at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, and included excerpts from two famous ballet works, directed by Marius Petipa (inspired by choreographer Lev Ivanov, who had died a few years earlier): the first and second acts from "La Fille Mal Gardée" by choreographer Jean Dauberval, with music by Peter Ludwig Hertel, and the second scene from the first act of "Swan Lake" by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Kschessinska performed lead roles in both works: she played Lise in "La Fille Mal Gardée" and Odette in "Swan Lake".
The front of the program features a large illustration by Bakst depicting details from the plot of "Swan Lake": an enchanted castle, a flock of swans, the Swan Queen wearing a crown, and more.
[1], II, [1] pages. 26 cm. Good condition. Minor stains and creases.
Léon Bakst (Лев Самойлович Бакст, born Лейб-Хаим Израилевич Розенберг; 1866-1924) was a Russian painter and designer of Jewish origin, best known for his work with the Russian Ballet. He studied at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts and later in Paris.
Bakst was a member of the influential "World of Art" (Мир искусства) group and gained fame for his costume and set designs for productions such as "Scheherazade" and "L'après-midi d'un faune". His work was characterized by exotic, richly colored designs that revolutionized theatrical aesthetics in the early 20th century.
