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For Art's Sake - The Story of Ballets Russes

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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

11/12/2009

BBC Four - For Art's Sake - The Story of Ballets Russes

Celebrating the achievements of Ballets Russes under Diaghilev's guidance.

Dancers, musicians, writers, critics, stylists and historians paint a vivid portrait of this unique dance company and discuss the legacy of Diaghilev's genius in the creative arts.

Celebrating the achievements of Ballets Russes under Diaghilev's guidance and their continuing influence on dance, art and music today. 

The English National Ballet perform extracts from two Ballets Russes' masterpieces, Les Sylphides and Scheherazade, as well as a new version by David Dawson of the iconic Nijinsky ballet Afternoon Of A Faun. 

Karl Lagerfeld talks about the influence of Coco Chanel and the design legacy of the Ballets Russes. The music from the period is discussed by great French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, who is joined by prolific English composer and broadcaster Howard Goodall. 

Ninety-five-year-old Frederick Franklin recounts what it was like to see the scandalous ending of Nijinsky's Afternoon Of A Faun, while dancers, musicians, writers, critics, stylists and historians paint a vivid portrait of this unique dance company and discuss the legacy of Diaghilev's genius on the creative arts.

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