247 - [AVANT-GARDE THEATER]

[AVANT-GARDE THEATER] LOPOUKHOV, Fedor The Grandeur of the Universe. A Dance Symphony by Fedor Lopoukhov. Illustrated with lithographic silhouettes by Pavel Goncharov. Edited by G.P. Liubarski, Saint Petersburg, 1922. [8], 20, [3] pp., ill., sheet music, in-8, publisher’s binding. Very good condition, print run of 500 copies, rare. [AVANT-GARDE THEATER] LOPUKHOV, Fyodor The Grandeur of the Universe. A dance symphony by Fyodor Lopukhov. With autolithographic silhouettes by Pavel Goncharov. Edited by G.P. Liubarski, St. Petersburg, 1922. [8], 20, [3] pp., ill., sheet music, 25×19 cm, publisher’s cover. Collector’s condition, print run of 500 copies, rare. The ballet *The Magnificence of the Universe* was first staged at the Petrograd Opera and Ballet Theater. Georgy Balanchivadze played the leading role. The performance was shown in September 1922 in the rehearsal hall for a private audience and was well received by experts. A brochure with illustrations by P. Goncharov was published for the premiere. The premiere took place on March 7, 1923, as part of a benefit performance for the ballet dancers, following the ballet *Swan Lake*. The audience’s reaction was unexpected—there was none. No applause, no boos, and no whistling. This reaction was interpreted as negative, and for many years the ballet was not staged. Theater historians view this production as a sort of “black square” of ballet—too unexpected and avant-garde for its time.