Books of Lasting Value
Lincoln Kirstein's centennial was celebrated by the New York City Ballet and School of American Ballet as "Kirstein 100, A Tribute," April 24 to June 24, at the New York State Theater, by the company and school he helped found and supported throughout his lifetime. Not only was he the man who brought George Balanchine to America in 1934, and founded SAB and NYCB in 1946, he was Balanchine's "third eye," making suggestions concerning contributing artists such as Isamu Noguchi for "Orpheus," (1948), and Martha Graham as a co-choreographer in "Episodes," (1959). Kirstein was a quiet, solemn man recognizable by his "signature" wardrobe...dark suits, white shirt, tie and sailor's dark "pea" jacket. He seldom appeared onstage before the curtain or talked with the cast, but frequently appeared in the studio during rehearsals. At performances, he occupied the same seat, first row balcony. Because of his gentle scowl, we alums thought he was 'born worried." He observed, but never commented. To us, he was an icon.
The celebration included not only performances by NYCB and SAB, that were not entirely successful, but extended to his eclectic interests and writings on art and literature, theater, poetry and essays, as well as his private collection of paintings and photographs. His 100th was celebrated at the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library in New York's Lincoln Center. It has all been captured in various new books but none so meticulously edited as the paperback, By With To and From, A Lincoln Kirstein Reader, by Stanford University's Nicholas Jenkins and published by University Press of Florida/Gainesville. It is available in bookstores or by calling 800-226-3822.
For sheer beauty, In the company of Stars, a book of 125 photo gems, by Gérard Uféras, is a collector's dream. He is the recipient of many awards and his work has appeared in European collections and galleries. He sees movement in a spontaneous reaction to the emotions, concentration and restful moments of his subjects. All the delicacy and elegance of the French school in the artists of the Ballet de Opéra de Paris backstage, onstage, in the wings, in rehearsal and on tour in Japan have been brought together as a tapestry of the company's repertoire since 2003. He has a painter's eye, not a sport journalist's "right moment" reaction. His photos are composed, balanced. Uféras is also part choreographer as he seems to dance, delight and become engaged in the commitment of his subjects.
Artists photographed include Agnés Letestu, Eleonora Abbagnato, Wilfried Romoli, Alexandra Cardinale, Nicolas Le Riche, and many others in works by Nureyev, Balanchine, Harald Lander, Pina Bausch, William Forsythe, Kader Belarbi, Trisha Brown, Jerome Robbins, Laura Scozzi and John Neumeyer.
The children of the company's school in Nanterre, the future dancers of the company, are not left out nor pictured as cute, precocious or undisciplined.
The book may be ordered directly from the publisher, Flammarion, 87, quai Panhard et Levassor, 76457 Paris Cedex 13.