The Moscow Art Theatre Musical Studio of Vladimir Nemirovich-Dantchenko (The Synthetic Theatre): first appearance outside Russia of the famous lyric branch of the world's foremost stage
New York: Morris Gest, 1925. First edition. Softcover. Large 4to. Soft paper wrappers illustrated in chromolithography. Put out by Morris Gest- an important Broadway theatrical producer and director- this is a touring programme for the Moscow Art Theatre's Musical Studio's first US tour in 1925-26. The Musical Studio originated as Nemirovich-Danchenko's offshoot of the Moscow Art Theatre from Stanislavsky's main company in 1919, as a result of the Russian Civil War. Danchenko's goal was to apply Stanislavsky's acting method to musical theater, in order to make an ensemble "free from old tradition," with "all the elements of musical stage action... united into one," by means of "synthetic actors." All of the Studio's productions were operatic works, some of them written by major composers such as Offenbach, Bizet, and Rachmaninoff. The librettos of the pieces were based on texts of famous classic writers, including Aristophanes and Pushkin. The Musical Studio's US repertoire included five pieces- "The Daughter of Madame Angot," "LA Perichole," "Lysistrata," "Carmencita and the Soldier," and "Love and Death." Morris Gest and F. Ray Comstock oversaw their stateside production and direction. The pamphlet is a collection of essays and articles about the Studio. Nemirovich-Danchenko co-writes the libretto summaries with Dr. Sergei Berthensson. Andei Hudiakoff, a successful New York artist, provides several large illustrations, including the front cover. Along with many pictures of the Russian and the American production crew and cast, the pamphlet is also heavily illustrated with color reproductions of original costume plates drawn by Isaac Rabinovich, a former director of the Moscow Kamerny Jewish Theatre who joined Danchenko's project. Creasing and several closed tears along the bottom and side edges. Binding overall in good, interior in fine condition. Pamphlet overall in very good condition. vg. Item #22124
Price: $450.00