DIAGHILEFF DEAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 762, 7 September 1929, Page 24

DIAGHILEFF DEAD

MAN WHO MADE RUSSIAN BALLET FAMOUS The death is announced, at the Lido, where he was spending a holiday, of M. Serge Diaghileff, the famous leader of the Russian Ballet, at the age of 57. M. Diaghileff, after studying at a university and conservatoire in Russia, entered the field of art. He commenced writing criticisms and held an exhibition of pictures. From 1599 to 1905 he was the editor of the Petrograd “Art World.” When the revolution broke out in Russia in 1905 he migrated to Paris, where he gave an exhibition of’Russian art in 190 G. Diaghileff, in 1907, gave a series of Russian symphony concerts, and in 1908 he was responsible for the first season of Russian opera ever given in Western Europe. Since 1909 Diaghileff has been organiser of the Russian Ballet in Paris and London. It late years he has Introduced many ballets, hitherto unseen, to London, several being set to music by de Falla, the Spanish composer.

One hundred people are in the cast of “Bitter Sweet,” the new operetta written and composed by Noel Coward, which has been presented with great success by Charles B. Cochran at the Palace, Manchester. The costumes are those of IS7O, 1890 and the present period. It is expected to run for two years.