Early life and career Sergei Diaghilev

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portrait of sergei diaghilev valentin serov (1904)



portrait of serge diaghilev nanny, léon bakst (1906).


sergei diaghilev born wealthy , cultured family in selishchi (novgorod governorate), russia; father, pavel pavlovich, cavalry colonel, family s money came vodka distilleries. after death of sergei s mother, father married elena valerianovna panaeva, artistic young woman on affectionate terms stepson , strong influence on him. family lived in perm had apartment in saint petersburg , country estate in bikbarda (near perm). in 1890, sergei s parents went bankrupt, having long time lived beyond means, , time sergei (who had small income inherited mother) had support family. after graduating perm gymnasium in 1890, went capital study law @ st. petersburg university, ended taking classes @ st. petersburg conservatory of music, studied singing , music (a love of had picked stepmother). after graduating in 1892 abandoned dreams of composition (his professor, nikolai rimsky-korsakov, told him had no talent music).


during years @ university, diaghilev s cousin dmitry filosofov introduced him circle of art-loving friends called nevsky pickwickians. included alexandre benois, walter nouvel, konstantin somov, , léon bakst. although not instantly received group, diaghilev aided benois in developing knowledge of russian , western art. in 2 years, had voraciously absorbed new obsession (even travelling abroad further studies) , came respected 1 of learned of group.


with financial backing savva mamontov (the director of russian private opera company) , princess maria tenisheva, group founded journal mir iskusstva (world of art). in 1899, diaghilev became special assistant prince sergei mikhaylovich volkonsky, had taken on directorship of imperial theaters. diaghilev responsible production of annual of imperial theaters in 1900, , promptly offered assignments close friends: léon bakst design costumes french play le coeur de la marquise, while benois given opportunity produce alexander taneyev s opera cupid s revenge.


in 1900–1901 volkonsky entrusted diaghilev staging of léo delibes ballet sylvia, favorite of benois. 2 collaborators concocted elaborate production plan startled established personnel of imperial theatres. after several increasingly antagonistic differences of opinion, diaghilev in demonstrative manner refused go on editing annual of imperial theatres , discharged volkonsky in 1901 , left disgraced in eyes of nobility. @ same time, of diaghilev s researchers hinted @ homosexuality main cause conflict. however, homosexuality had been known long before invited imperial theatres.








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