|
|
Article: From Russes with love: the early-20th-century gay genius of Nijinsky, Diaghilev, and the Ballets Russes comes alive in a major exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art. (art).
- Article from:
- The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine)
- Article date:
- February 18, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Regent Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Sometime before the Ballets Russes' debut in Paris at the beginning of the last century, Oscar Wilde remarked, "One should either be a work of art or wear a work of art." The Ballets Russes' artists did both. Gay impresario Sergey Diaghilev and his mostly Russian team gave new and long-lasting life to the stagnant ballets of the West, and part of that magic derived from Diaghilev's inspired way of integrating every aspect of his productions. The Ballets Russes' sometimes riot-inducing performances featured music by composers such as Stravinsky amid avant-garde sets and lavish costumes created by the likes of Matisse, Picasso, and De Chirico.
Thirty of those ...