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Cecchetti, Enrico. (1850–1928) [Diaghilev, Sergei. (1872–1929)][Lifar, Serge. (1905–1986)] Autograph Letter to Diaghilev regarding Serge Lifar
Cecchetti, Enrico. (1850–1928) [Diaghilev, Sergei. (1872–1929)][Lifar, Serge. (1905–1986)] Autograph Letter to Diaghilev regarding Serge Lifar
Cecchetti, Enrico. (1850–1928) [Diaghilev, Sergei. (1872–1929)][Lifar, Serge. (1905–1986)] Autograph Letter to Diaghilev regarding Serge Lifar
Cecchetti, Enrico. (1850–1928) [Diaghilev, Sergei. (1872–1929)][Lifar, Serge. (1905–1986)] Autograph Letter to Diaghilev regarding Serge Lifar
Cecchetti, Enrico. (1850–1928) [Diaghilev, Sergei. (1872–1929)][Lifar, Serge. (1905–1986)]. Autograph Letter to Diaghilev regarding Serge Lifar.

Exceedingly rare autograph letter from perhaps the greatest teacher in ballet history to the important impresario and founder of the Ballets Russes, Serge Diaghilev, regarding one of his most celebrated students, the young Serge Lifar, from whose collection this letter was originally obtained. 2 pages, on black-bordered mourning stationery [his wife, the dancer Giuseppina Cecchetti, died October 24, 1927], no place [Milan, Italy], no date [ca. 1927]. Penned entirely in the hand of Cecchetti, signed later in a different ink in the hand of Lifar ("Maestro Cecchetti") beside Lifar's purple ink ownership stamp lower right (also to upper left recto). Small tears to margins, overall very fine. 5.2 x 6.8 inches; 13 x 17.5 cm. Translated from the French, in full:

"As soon as I received your telegram, I hurried to communicate it to Mr. Scandiani [Angelo Scandiani, Italian baritone, Director of La Scala from 1919-1930] and earnestly request him to take an interest in the matter. He immediately telegraphed to Rome, requesting arrangements to allow Mr. Lifar and his companion from the troupe to come here to Milan. Diaghilev, being busy here at La Scala, I believe this matter has been arranged, and I have the pleasure of welcoming my dear Serge back and giving him some more lessons and some good advice. Dear Mr. Diaghilev, I hope you will not refuse the small favor I asked of you: give me the repetiteur of the Sylphide ballet for a few days, as I would like to use it to create something suitable for my students' examinations. Serge could talk to him about it and take it back when he leaves... Assured of your kindness, I thank you in advance - Maestro Cecchetti.

Apart from a brief note sold in 2014, we have not traced any letters from Cecchetti having appeared on the market in over 75 years. The present example, uniting three of the most important figures in the history of dance, is a great rarity indeed. 

Creator of such roles as the Bluebird and Carabosse in Petipa's The Sleeping Beauty, Enrico Cecchetti was a star at the Imperial Ballet and by 1888 was widely accepted as the greatest ballet virtuoso in the world. As a teacher, he taught and mentored not only Lifar but also Anna Pavlova, Leonide Massine, Vaslav Nijinsky, Olga Preobajenska, Anton Dolin, Alexandra Danilova among many others and traveled extensively as ballet master of Diaghilev's Ballet Russes. He created the ballet technique known now as the Ceccheti Method, still used by many ballet companies around the world. 

Born in 1905, Russian-born, Serge Lifar was introduced to dance in 1920 by Bronislava Nijinska, under whom he began to study. Brought to France to join Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, Lifar studied with Cecchetti and became premier danseur of the company and created the title roles in a number of George Balanchine’s early ballets, including The Prodigal Son. He later became director of the Paris Opera Ballet (1929) and there created over 50 ballets, including the path-breaking Icare (1935), which was written to be danced without music.

Cecchetti, Enrico. (1850–1928) [Diaghilev, Sergei. (1872–1929)][Lifar, Serge. (1905–1986)] Autograph Letter to Diaghilev regarding Serge Lifar

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Cecchetti, Enrico. (1850–1928) [Diaghilev, Sergei. (1872–1929)][Lifar, Serge. (1905–1986)]. Autograph Letter to Diaghilev regarding Serge Lifar.

Exceedingly rare autograph letter from perhaps the greatest teacher in ballet history to the important impresario and founder of the Ballets Russes, Serge Diaghilev, regarding one of his most celebrated students, the young Serge Lifar, from whose collection this letter was originally obtained. 2 pages, on black-bordered mourning stationery [his wife, the dancer Giuseppina Cecchetti, died October 24, 1927], no place [Milan, Italy], no date [ca. 1927]. Penned entirely in the hand of Cecchetti, signed later in a different ink in the hand of Lifar ("Maestro Cecchetti") beside Lifar's purple ink ownership stamp lower right (also to upper left recto). Small tears to margins, overall very fine. 5.2 x 6.8 inches; 13 x 17.5 cm. Translated from the French, in full:

"As soon as I received your telegram, I hurried to communicate it to Mr. Scandiani [Angelo Scandiani, Italian baritone, Director of La Scala from 1919-1930] and earnestly request him to take an interest in the matter. He immediately telegraphed to Rome, requesting arrangements to allow Mr. Lifar and his companion from the troupe to come here to Milan. Diaghilev, being busy here at La Scala, I believe this matter has been arranged, and I have the pleasure of welcoming my dear Serge back and giving him some more lessons and some good advice. Dear Mr. Diaghilev, I hope you will not refuse the small favor I asked of you: give me the repetiteur of the Sylphide ballet for a few days, as I would like to use it to create something suitable for my students' examinations. Serge could talk to him about it and take it back when he leaves... Assured of your kindness, I thank you in advance - Maestro Cecchetti.

Apart from a brief note sold in 2014, we have not traced any letters from Cecchetti having appeared on the market in over 75 years. The present example, uniting three of the most important figures in the history of dance, is a great rarity indeed. 

Creator of such roles as the Bluebird and Carabosse in Petipa's The Sleeping Beauty, Enrico Cecchetti was a star at the Imperial Ballet and by 1888 was widely accepted as the greatest ballet virtuoso in the world. As a teacher, he taught and mentored not only Lifar but also Anna Pavlova, Leonide Massine, Vaslav Nijinsky, Olga Preobajenska, Anton Dolin, Alexandra Danilova among many others and traveled extensively as ballet master of Diaghilev's Ballet Russes. He created the ballet technique known now as the Ceccheti Method, still used by many ballet companies around the world. 

Born in 1905, Russian-born, Serge Lifar was introduced to dance in 1920 by Bronislava Nijinska, under whom he began to study. Brought to France to join Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, Lifar studied with Cecchetti and became premier danseur of the company and created the title roles in a number of George Balanchine’s early ballets, including The Prodigal Son. He later became director of the Paris Opera Ballet (1929) and there created over 50 ballets, including the path-breaking Icare (1935), which was written to be danced without music.

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