MOSCOW, August 20 (RIA Novosti) - Prominent Russian impresario (producer) Sergei Dyagilev (1872-1929), founder of the famous Russian Seasons, died in Venice 75 years ago. He played an important role in the promotion of Russian ballet abroad. He made people throughout the world consider Russian ballet a miracle. Mr. Dyagilev developed the talents of Vaclav Nijinski, Serge Lifar and Leonid Myasin. Having invented a synthesis of music, texts, plastique, sets and direction, Mr. Dyagilev became more famous than any of the musicians, writers, dancers and artists who helped him stage his works, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported.
He strived to rid Russian art of its tediousness and provinciality.
Alexander Benois wrote: "Creation is the basis and essence of his existence.
However, it is hard to say what his creation lay in. Dyagilev painted no pictures, wrote no books except several [very talented] articles, had nothing to do with architecture or sculpture. Dyagilev made a specialty of his own, his will and desire. If this remarkable man had a desire for something, everything was a success".
Mr. Dyagilev also founded the World of Art, a famous association of Russian artists that emerged from a self-educated group of talented youth.
