Léonide Massine (1895 - 1979), the Bolshoi trained dancer who replaced Nijinsky in 1915 and who would quickly become the principal dancer and choreographer of Serge Diaghilev's Ballet Russes. Though not an exceptional dancer (to quote Diaghilev, Nothing but a good-looking face and poor legs), Massine possessed great stage presence. He became a superstar in his own time. Amongst his numerous credits, he appeared in both The Red Shoes (1948) and The Tales of Hoffman (1951).
He went on to choreograph Parade (1917), the landmark collaboration with Jean Cocteau and Erik Satie, The Rite of Spring (1920) and The Three Cornered Hat (1919). For more than twenty years he was considered to be the Western world's greatest choreographer; only to be eclipsed by George Balanchine.
Li Galli, home not only to the sirens of mythology, but also to Massine. And, subsequently Rudolph Nureyeve.
For more images of the house on Li Galli visit Mrs. Bladings' post Life is a Dance.
A short independent documentary on Massine by Michael Maxwell Steer shot on Li Galli in 1971.
Massine: A Biography by Vicente Garcia-Marquez
Image from the National Museum of Dance
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Now playing on iTunes: Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygène Part II
via FoxyTunes
Friday 13 February 2009
Tyrannical genius
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4 comments:
A million years ago I posted the interiors - you can find it through the link. Though, I bet you have it.
Mrs. B - thanks, I hadn't seen that.
Li Galli is truly beautiful and mystical...do you know who currently resides there?
S+S
S+S - unfortunately, no idea.
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