Marie Rambert Talks of Assising Vaslav Nijinsky with 'The Rite of Spring' (1913)

[balletnut]

There are several people I could listen to all day, and two are Ninette de Valois and Rambert.

I've heard this story before many times and I do know she went to help Nijinsky and Diaghilev with 'Sacre' but do you know how true it is that Diaghilev arranged that 'reception' and then went out for a good dinner and a laugh afterwards?

[nickwallacesmith]

hi balletnut - yes, i wouldn't be at all surprised that diaghilev organised it - richard buckle suggests that it was the impresario who had nijinsky wear the costume that had him dismissed from the mariinsky theatre and so gave dlaghiev total use of him in his ventures in the west - a master manipulator - i guess he needed to be to have survived with no state backed sponsorship.

[mithrilmoon1]

@nickwallacesmith Diaghilev - one of my heroes - was both shrewd and a risk-taker (particularly with other people's money!) because he had to be. He could also be ruthless,of course - a common trait in impresarios in general and geniuses in particular. Alas his jealousy when crossed in love made him implacable - Nijinksy was cast into the void, and became in no time very sick and lost. Had Diaghilev been big enough to forgive the Nijinsky marriage, poor Vatsa might have been saved.

[mithrilmoon1]

@balletnut Me too! I must say that whilst I credit de Valois (along with Lilian Baylis) with laying the firm foundations of British ballet, I have a soft spot for Mim Rambert. This tiny, sparky, passionate lady formed the old Ballet Club at the Mercury Theatre and trained such later luminaries as Sir Frederick Ashton. Many future stars left Mim for de Valois' larger Vic-Wells company. Mim graciously let go, so they could progress in their careers. Wonderful lady.

[Qbendanny]

Balanchine did the same thing with "Theme and Variations" in 1947, the counts were against the beat as told by Youskevitch. The ballerina featured in the clip is Beatriz Rodriguez who was brilliant in it and a star with the Joffrey ballet. The prod. is from the Joffrey.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Qbendanny - yes, the relation of the musical phrase to the musical one is so much more interesting when one is not just ontop of the other - must watch 'Theme and Variations' again

[mithrilmoon1]

@Qbendanny Lately I have been researching The Joffrey Ballet (for fun!). I love their RITE OF SPRING and believe it is as close as we are ever likely to come to a full performance of the original work. Millicent Hodson did a fantastic job - it took her ten years to complete. Ms Rodgriguez is fantastic, as is Marie Claude Pietragalla of the Paris Opera Ballet.