Theatre Costume
ca. 1925 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Costume designed by Maurice Utrillo and made by the London costumier, Morris Angel & Co., for one of the soldiers in the comic ballet, Barabau, choreographed by George Balanchine for Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes at the London Coliseum, 11 December 1925.
Barabau divided response as while some enjoyed the fun in the ballet others, such as Cyril Beaumont considered it ‘merely vulgar and rather tedious’. The synopsis of the ballet explained how a detachment of soldiers disrupt the merry-making and pillage a village. ‘The soldiers improvise a dance on the field of battle, in which they are joined first by the Sergeant, and finally by the village girls during which Barabau feigns death and is carried into the church. ‘The time has now come for the soldiers to take their departure. The Sergeant collects his half-drunken men and marches off. Scarcely have they vanished when Barabau, returning to life, leaves the church, carried in triumph by his companions, who reinstate him on his property.’
The six soldiers were originally danced Ryszard Domansky, Nikolai Efimov. Jean Jazvinsky, Vladislav Karnetsky, Michaelov and Konstantin Tcherkass. One of the two costumes for soldiers in the V&A collection was worn by Tcherkas.
Barabau divided response as while some enjoyed the fun in the ballet others, such as Cyril Beaumont considered it ‘merely vulgar and rather tedious’. The synopsis of the ballet explained how a detachment of soldiers disrupt the merry-making and pillage a village. ‘The soldiers improvise a dance on the field of battle, in which they are joined first by the Sergeant, and finally by the village girls during which Barabau feigns death and is carried into the church. ‘The time has now come for the soldiers to take their departure. The Sergeant collects his half-drunken men and marches off. Scarcely have they vanished when Barabau, returning to life, leaves the church, carried in triumph by his companions, who reinstate him on his property.’
The six soldiers were originally danced Ryszard Domansky, Nikolai Efimov. Jean Jazvinsky, Vladislav Karnetsky, Michaelov and Konstantin Tcherkass. One of the two costumes for soldiers in the V&A collection was worn by Tcherkas.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | wool, brass buttons, braid |
| Brief description | Jacket designed by Utrillo for a Soldier in Balanchine's ballet Barabau for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russe, 1925. |
| Physical description | Costume designed by Utrillo or a Soldier in Balanchine's ballet Barabau1925. Short (cut to the waistline) military uniform jacket described in the Sotheby catalogue as a 'bumfreezer', made of almond-green wool. It has a small stand-up collar, cuffs and epaulettes in blue and black with a yellow braid and brass buttons. The jacket is front fastening with two rowns of eight brass buttons. The costume lacks it's trousers and military cap. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Owned by the Diaghilev and de Basil Ballet foundation and sold at aution by Sotheby's at the Chenil Galleries on 3 March 1973 part of Lot 214 where it was purchased by the Friends of the Museum of Performance. Hammer price ?. Given to V&A |
| Summary | Costume designed by Maurice Utrillo and made by the London costumier, Morris Angel & Co., for one of the soldiers in the comic ballet, Barabau, choreographed by George Balanchine for Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes at the London Coliseum, 11 December 1925. Barabau divided response as while some enjoyed the fun in the ballet others, such as Cyril Beaumont considered it ‘merely vulgar and rather tedious’. The synopsis of the ballet explained how a detachment of soldiers disrupt the merry-making and pillage a village. ‘The soldiers improvise a dance on the field of battle, in which they are joined first by the Sergeant, and finally by the village girls during which Barabau feigns death and is carried into the church. ‘The time has now come for the soldiers to take their departure. The Sergeant collects his half-drunken men and marches off. Scarcely have they vanished when Barabau, returning to life, leaves the church, carried in triumph by his companions, who reinstate him on his property.’ The six soldiers were originally danced Ryszard Domansky, Nikolai Efimov. Jean Jazvinsky, Vladislav Karnetsky, Michaelov and Konstantin Tcherkass. One of the two costumes for soldiers in the V&A collection was worn by Tcherkas. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.841-1980 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
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