Serge de Diaghilev - A Portrait [1]

This is a documentary divided into seven parts on the life of Serge de Diaghilev, founder and guiding creative force of the famed Ballets Russes company.

I'm uploading the film as it used to be on You Tube but no longer seems so and I think a lot of people would like to have access to it again.

The talking head is Ballets Russes dancer, Tamara Geva.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Serge de Diaghilev
• Ballets Russes
• Russian Ballet
• ballet

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Bnesque - like 'the devil wears parda' for those deeply emotional mires that need to be crawled out of - just silly and funny, sort of.

[Bnesque]

@nickwallacesmith Yes, it's a movie that involves you so deeply emotionally. I have to see some messed up "absurd" type of movie like Steppenwolf (1974) to dig out myself.LOL!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Bnesque - yes as i grow older too such books and films have an increasing resonance for me. i particularly take your point about the gap that yawns open now between me and nieces who think about the world in a fundamentally different way - but yes you are right it was wonderful that Visconti could create something of artistic worth out of such seemingly unpromising material. i can't help but approach the film on an emotional level - i seem to want to leave my mind disengaged

[Bnesque]

@nickwallacesmith As I grow older I see suffering of Visconti/Aschenbach more and more like your physical ability and health went down hill, all your loved ones passed, once glorious of your talent came to the point that no longer could connect with the younger generation, you came to doubt your work ethique, your philosophy might not work anymore. It's truelly miraculous that Visconti could create such a master piece from his own torment.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Bnesque - you very beautifully capture the effect of the music in the movie. and i think the Visconti quotation is so powerful - as i grow older i see the expressive possibilities of death - it is so often shunned, as though it did not exist. i'm about to rewatch too!

[Bnesque]

@nickwallacesmith Exactly! The music here has transporting quality like waves in canal, ffusitive vision of a beautiful boy or motherly calling from the womb, enticing you into the bosom of death. I remember Visconti talked about this movie like"put your eyes on the absolute beauty is put your eyes on death".I already began to rewatch.

[nickwallacesmith]

@Bnesque - thanks for identifying the orchestra and conductor - must google it. yes, i adore the opening of the movie, the music so perfectly supporting the visual. von karajan version is more transcendental and other-worldly than the christoph eschenbach - neither have the dream-like nostalgic transporting quality of the film's audio. must watch the movie again today! you? best, nick

[Bnesque]

@nickwallacesmith Yes, yes, I'm crazy in love with the rendition of Symphony no.5 in the movie, Slow paced, nostalgic, melancholic and heart breakingly beautiful with swift change of tempo. It was done by National Academy Orchestra of Sainta Cecilia, conducter is Franco Mannino. It's in the long opening credit. I believe omnipotent Visconti might direct Mannino, too.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Pearlaceous - LOL - sometimes i do have difficulty sleeping and last night was one of them - it's 7.30am and not a wink of sleep yet - will probably - by the way, i very much enjoyed your comments - be in touch, best, me

[Pearlaceous]

@nickwallacesmith LOL! I have just finished partt 7, looked at my Inbox and there are your comments! :-) Do you never sleep? :-)