Export your learner materials as an interactive game, a webpage, or FAQ style cheatsheet.
Unsaved Work Found!
It looks like you have unsaved work from a previous session. Would you like to restore it?
Total Categories: 6
Diaghilev's mother, Elena Panaeva, lovingly raised him after his birth in Selishchi.
Answer: False
The source indicates that Elena Panaeva was Sergei Diaghilev's stepmother, who lovingly raised him after his biological mother died shortly after his birth.
The Diaghilev family home in Perm was primarily known for its extensive library, which fostered Sergei's early literary interests.
Answer: False
The Diaghilev family home in Perm was known for hosting musical evenings, which fostered Sergei's early musical talent, not primarily for a library or literary interests.
Sergei Diaghilev completed his university degree in the standard four years while also receiving private music lessons from Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
Answer: False
Sergei Diaghilev took six years to graduate from Saint Petersburg Imperial University, not the standard four, although he did receive private music lessons from Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov during this time.
Alexandre Benois was instrumental in helping Diaghilev develop a deep understanding of Russian and Western art within 'The Nevsky Pickwickians' group.
Answer: True
The source confirms that Alexandre Benois played a key role in helping Diaghilev develop his understanding of art within 'The Nevsky Pickwickians' group.
Diaghilev's early art exhibitions in the late 1890s focused exclusively on showcasing young Russian painters in Germany.
Answer: False
Diaghilev's early exhibitions included British and German watercolorists, Russian and Finnish artists, and young Russian painters in Germany, indicating a broader focus than exclusively young Russian painters in Germany.
Sergei Diaghilev secured high-level patronage for his artistic endeavors primarily through his inherited family wealth.
Answer: False
The source explicitly states that Sergei Diaghilev did not have a private fortune and instead secured patronage from influential nobility.
'Mir iskusstva' was an art society and journal co-founded by Diaghilev and Léon Bakst in 1898.
Answer: False
The 'Mir iskusstva' society and journal was co-founded by Diaghilev and Alexandre Benois, not Léon Bakst.
As art director of 'Mir iskusstva,' Diaghilev was responsible for the publication's style and design, and he also wrote critical essays.
Answer: True
The source confirms that Diaghilev, as art director, shaped the style and design of 'Mir iskusstva' and contributed critical essays.
Diaghilev's 1905 exhibition of 'Russian portraits' was innovative because he personally acquired all 4,000 artworks and displayed them without any accompanying notes.
Answer: False
Diaghilev's 1905 exhibition was innovative for its design and the inclusion of notes and a catalog, not for displaying artworks without notes. He also compiled a catalog of 2,300 pieces, not necessarily acquiring all 4,000.
Diaghilev transformed his role at the Imperial Theaters into an active one, becoming editor-in-chief of the Annual of the Imperial Theaters and reforming it into a luxurious magazine.
Answer: True
The source confirms that Diaghilev transformed his role at the Imperial Theaters by actively reforming the Annual into a luxurious magazine.
Diaghilev's dismissal from the Imperial Theaters in 1901 was primarily due to his refusal to stage Léo Delibes' ballet 'Sylvia.'
Answer: False
Diaghilev's dismissal was due to conflicts over his elaborate production plans for 'Sylvia' and his subsequent refusal to continue editing the Annual of the Imperial Theaters, not simply a refusal to stage the ballet.
In East Slavic naming customs, 'Pavlovich' in Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev's name signifies his family lineage, similar to a surname.
Answer: False
In East Slavic naming customs, 'Pavlovich' is a patronymic, indicating he is the son of Pavel, not signifying his family lineage similar to a surname.
Sergei Diaghilev's career is divided into two main periods. Which years define his early years spent in Saint Petersburg?
Answer: 1898 to 1906
Where was Sergei Diaghilev born?
Answer: Selishchi, Novgorod Governorate
What significant cultural activity did the Diaghilev family home in Perm host that influenced Sergei's early development?
Answer: Musical evenings every second Thursday
Who provided Sergei Diaghilev with private music lessons during his university years?
Answer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Which member of 'The Nevsky Pickwickians' group particularly helped Diaghilev develop a deep understanding of Russian and Western art?
Answer: Alexandre Benois
Which of the following was NOT one of Diaghilev's initial successes in organizing art exhibitions in the late 1890s?
Answer: A retrospective of French Impressionist painters
How did Sergei Diaghilev primarily secure funding for his ambitious art projects despite lacking personal wealth?
Answer: By gaining the protection and support of influential nobility
Who co-founded the 'Mir iskusstva' (World of Art) society and journal with Diaghilev in 1898?
Answer: Alexandre Benois
What was one of Diaghilev's specific contributions to the 'Mir iskusstva' journal?
Answer: He was responsible for shaping the publication's style and design.
What innovative aspect characterized Diaghilev's 1905 exhibition of 'Russian portraits of the 18th and 19th centuries'?
Answer: Paintings were grouped, accompanied by notes, and displayed in differently decorated interiors.
What was Diaghilev's primary action upon being appointed an officer on special duty at the Imperial Theaters in 1899?
Answer: He reformed the Annual of the Imperial Theaters into a luxurious magazine.
What was the main reason for Diaghilev's dismissal from the Imperial Theaters in 1901?
Answer: His refusal to continue editing the Annual of the Imperial Theaters after conflicts over ballet production plans.
What is the significance of 'Pavlovich' in Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev's full name according to East Slavic naming customs?
Answer: It indicates he is the son of Pavel.
The 1906 'Two Centuries of the Russian art and Sculpture' exhibition in Paris was designed by Alexandre Benois and featured only modern Russian artists.
Answer: False
The 1906 Paris exhibition was designed by Léon Bakst and showcased a broad range of Russian art, from modern artists to ancient icons, not exclusively modern artists.
Sergei Diaghilev accepted the Legion of Honour award in 1906 for his successful exhibition in Paris.
Answer: False
Sergei Diaghilev declined the Legion of Honour award for himself in 1906, choosing to accept it in honor of Léon Bakst.
The 'Concerts historiques russes' in 1907 were organized by Diaghilev to introduce Russian music to major cultural capitals like Paris, following the success of his 1906 art exhibition.
Answer: True
The source confirms that Diaghilev organized the 'Concerts historiques russes' in 1907, motivated by the success of his 1906 art exhibition, to promote Russian music internationally.
Despite artistic success, Diaghilev's initial international music and opera productions, such as 'Boris Godunov,' were financially profitable.
Answer: False
The source explicitly states that Diaghilev's initial international music and opera productions, including 'Boris Godunov,' were financially unprofitable despite their artistic success.
What was a significant outcome of Diaghilev's 1906 exhibition at the Salon d'Automne in Paris?
Answer: It fostered a 'fashion à la russe' in France and contributed to the future triumph of the Ballets Russes.
Why did Sergei Diaghilev decline the Legion of Honour award in 1906?
Answer: He chose to accept it in honor of Léon Bakst
What inspired Diaghilev to organize the 'Concerts historiques russes' in Paris in 1907?
Answer: The significant success of his 1906 art exhibition in Paris.
What was the financial outcome of Diaghilev's initial international music and opera tours, such as the 'Concerts historiques russes' and 'Boris Godunov'?
Answer: They were financially unprofitable despite artistic success.
Misia Sert provided crucial financial assistance to Diaghilev, enabling the Ballets Russes to rent the prestigious Palais Garnier for its first season in 1909.
Answer: False
Misia Sert provided crucial financial assistance, but it enabled the Ballets Russes to rent the Théâtre du Châtelet, which was a less prestigious venue than the Palais Garnier, for its first season.
Diaghilev initially held a high regard for ballet, believing it required significant intellectual engagement from the audience.
Answer: False
Diaghilev initially held a dismissive view of ballet, stating that 'anyone with no special wit can enjoy it, there is no sense or subject in ballet,' indicating a low regard for its intellectual demands.
The inaugural 1909 Saison Russe featured only ballets, with no opera productions included.
Answer: False
The inaugural 1909 Saison Russe included both ballets and operas, such as 'Boris Godunov' and 'The Maid of Pskov,' not only ballets.
Vaslav Nijinsky, Anna Pavlova, and Tamara Karsavina were among the leading dancers who achieved international stardom during the first Ballets Russes season.
Answer: True
The source identifies Vaslav Nijinsky, Anna Pavlova, and Tamara Karsavina as leading dancers who achieved international stardom during the first Ballets Russes season.
Diaghilev's innovative approach with the Ballets Russes was to focus solely on the dance itself, minimizing the importance of music and visual arts.
Answer: False
Diaghilev's innovative approach was to synthesize dance, music, and visual arts into a unified performance, not to minimize the importance of music and visual arts.
Diaghilev's balletic adaptation of Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Sheherazade' in 1910 was widely praised by the composer's family.
Answer: False
Diaghilev's balletic adaptation of Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Sheherazade' drew strong criticism from the composer's widow, Nadezhda Rimskaya-Korsakova, who published open letters of protest.
Léonide Massine served as the primary artistic director for the Ballets Russes, working closely with Diaghilev.
Answer: False
Léon Bakst served as the artistic director for the Ballets Russes, while Léonide Massine was a key choreographer.
Igor Stravinsky's first commission from Diaghilev was for his original ballet score, 'The Rite of Spring,' in 1913.
Answer: False
Igor Stravinsky's first original ballet score commissioned by Diaghilev was 'The Firebird' in 1910, not 'The Rite of Spring' in 1913.
Who provided crucial assistance to Diaghilev, enabling the Ballets Russes to rent the Théâtre du Châtelet for its first ballet season in 1909?
Answer: Misia Sert
What was Diaghilev's initial, somewhat dismissive, view of ballet?
Answer: He stated that 'anyone with no special wit can enjoy it, there is no sense or subject in ballet.'
Which of the following ballets was NOT part of the inaugural 1909 Saison Russe?
Answer: The Firebird
Which of these dancers achieved immediate international stardom during the first Ballets Russes season in 1909?
Answer: Vaslav Nijinsky
What was Diaghilev's innovative approach that defined the Ballets Russes?
Answer: Synthesizing dance, music, and visual arts into a single, unified performance.
Diaghilev's balletic adaptation of which Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov orchestral suite drew strong criticism from the composer's widow?
Answer: Scheherazade
Who served as the artistic director for the Ballets Russes under Diaghilev?
Answer: Léon Bakst
Which of Igor Stravinsky's ballets was his first original score commissioned by Diaghilev?
Answer: The Firebird
Sergei Prokofiev and Claude Debussy were among the distinguished composers commissioned by Diaghilev to create original ballet music.
Answer: True
The source lists Sergei Prokofiev and Claude Debussy among the distinguished composers commissioned by Diaghilev for original ballet music.
Diaghilev's 1921 London production of Tchaikovsky's 'The Sleeping Beauty' was a financial success, despite being less acclaimed by the public.
Answer: False
Diaghilev's 1921 production of 'The Sleeping Beauty' was a significant financial disaster, despite receiving public acclaim.
In its later years, the Ballets Russes' productions were often considered too 'intellectual' and 'stylish,' leading to less widespread success than earlier seasons.
Answer: True
The source indicates that in its later years, Ballets Russes productions were perceived as too 'intellectual' and 'stylish,' resulting in less widespread success compared to earlier seasons.
Diaghilev pioneered the adaptation of new musical styles in modern ballet, moving towards greater freedom in tonality, harmony, rhythm, and meter.
Answer: True
The source highlights Diaghilev's pioneering role in adapting new musical styles for modern ballet, embracing greater freedom in musical elements.
To maintain rhythm in Ravel's 'Daphnis and Chloe,' Ballets Russes dancers would count out the 5/4 time signature aloud.
Answer: False
To maintain rhythm in Ravel's 'Daphnis and Chloe,' Ballets Russes dancers would sing 'Ser-gei-dia-ghi-lev' during rehearsals, rather than simply counting aloud.
Which of the following composers was NOT commissioned by Diaghilev to create original ballet music for the Ballets Russes?
Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven
What was the financial outcome of Diaghilev's lavish 1921 London production of Tchaikovsky's 'The Sleeping Beauty'?
Answer: It was a significant financial disaster.
How were the Ballets Russes' productions often perceived in its later years compared to earlier seasons?
Answer: They were considered too 'intellectual' and 'stylish,' achieving less widespread success.
What was a key aspect of Diaghilev's pioneering work in adapting new musical styles to modern ballet?
Answer: He embraced developments in tonality, harmony, rhythm, and meter towards greater freedom.
What unique method did Ballets Russes dancers use to keep rhythm in Maurice Ravel's 'Daphnis and Chloe' when faced with a 5/4 time signature?
Answer: They sang 'Ser-gei-dia-ghi-lev' during rehearsals.
Ballerinas of the Imperial Ballet affectionately called Diaghilev 'Sergypops' due to his kind and gentle demeanor.
Answer: False
Ballerinas of the Imperial Ballet called Diaghilev 'Chinchilla' due to his grey lock. While Alicia Markova later affectionately called him 'Sergypops,' his general demeanor was often described as demanding, not consistently kind and gentle.
Vaslav Nijinsky was Diaghilev's only romantic partner throughout his career.
Answer: False
The source lists Vaslav Nijinsky as Diaghilev's most famous romantic partner, but also mentions Léonide Massine, Anton Dolin, Serge Lifar, and Boris Kochno as other notable lovers.
According to Serge Lifar, Léonide Massine provided Diaghilev with the most profound emotional experiences among all his lovers.
Answer: True
Serge Lifar claimed that Léonide Massine provided Diaghilev with the most profound emotional experiences among his lovers.
Diaghilev dismissed Vaslav Nijinsky from the Ballets Russes in 1913 because Nijinsky's dancing quality had significantly declined.
Answer: False
Diaghilev dismissed Vaslav Nijinsky from the Ballets Russes in 1913 because Nijinsky married Romola de Pulszky, not due to a decline in his dancing quality.
Diaghilev was known for his gentle and encouraging nature during rehearsals, rarely showing displeasure.
Answer: False
Dancers described Diaghilev as a hard, demanding, and even frightening taskmaster during rehearsals, often showing displeasure with a cane or cold comments, not as gentle and encouraging.
Diaghilev's personal financial habits showed he prioritized his own comfort, often having impeccably tailored suits and a lavish lifestyle.
Answer: False
Diaghilev lived paycheck to paycheck, making personal sacrifices for his company, and his impeccably cut suits often had frayed cuffs, indicating he did not prioritize his own lavish comfort.
What nickname did the ballerinas of the Imperial Ballet give Diaghilev, and why?
Answer: 'Chinchilla' due to his distinctive grey lock.
Which of Diaghilev's romantic partners did Serge Lifar claim brought him the most profound emotional experiences?
Answer: Léonide Massine
What event led to Vaslav Nijinsky's dismissal from the Ballets Russes by Diaghilev in 1913?
Answer: His marriage to Romola de Pulszky.
How did Ninette de Valois describe Diaghilev's demanding nature as a taskmaster?
Answer: She stated she was too afraid to ever look him in the face.
What instance demonstrated Sergei Diaghilev's capacity for kindness towards his dancers?
Answer: He gave his last money to Lydia Sokolova for her daughter's medical care when the company was stranded.
What did Diaghilev's impeccably cut suits with frayed cuffs and trouser-ends indicate about his personal financial habits?
Answer: He lived paycheck to paycheck and made personal sacrifices for his company.
The Ballets Russes had a significant cultural impact, influencing Fauvist painters and contributing to the nascent Art Deco movement.
Answer: True
The source confirms that the Ballets Russes influenced Fauvist painters and contributed to the nascent Art Deco movement, demonstrating its significant cultural impact.
After the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Soviet regime celebrated Diaghilev as a pioneer of modern Russian art.
Answer: False
After the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Soviet regime condemned Diaghilev as an example of 'bourgeois decadence,' rather than celebrating him.
George Balanchine, Ninette de Valois, and Marie Rambert were all instrumental in establishing significant ballet traditions in the United States and England after leaving the Ballets Russes.
Answer: True
The source confirms that George Balanchine, Ninette de Valois, and Marie Rambert, all former Ballets Russes members, established significant ballet traditions in the United States and England.
Serge Lifar is recognized for his efforts in saving many Jewish and other minority dancers from Nazi concentration camps during World War II.
Answer: True
The source recognizes Serge Lifar for his humanitarian efforts in saving Jewish and other minority dancers from Nazi concentration camps during World War II.
Ruth Page founded the Chicago Opera Ballet after dancing with Diaghilev's company in 1925.
Answer: True
The source states that Ruth Page, after dancing with the Ballets Russes, founded her own ballet troupes in Chicago, including the Chicago Opera Ballet.
The 1948 film 'The Red Shoes' explicitly states it is a direct biographical account of Sergei Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes.
Answer: False
While 'The Red Shoes' is widely believed to be inspired by Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes, the filmmakers acknowledged similarities without explicitly stating it was a direct biographical account.
Sergei Diaghilev died of a heart attack in Venice on August 19, 1929, after a long illness.
Answer: False
Sergei Diaghilev died of diabetes in Venice on August 19, 1929, not a heart attack.
Diaghilev's tomb is located on the island of San Michele, near Venice, in the Orthodox section of the cemetery.
Answer: True
The source confirms that Diaghilev's tomb is located on the island of San Michele, near Venice, in the Orthodox section of the cemetery.
The Ekstrom Collection, related to Diaghilev and Stravinsky, is preserved at the British Museum in London.
Answer: False
The Ekstrom Collection of the Diaghilev and Stravinsky Foundation is preserved at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, not the British Museum.
Alan Bates portrayed Sergei Diaghilev in the 1980 film 'Nijinsky.'
Answer: True
The source confirms that Alan Bates played the role of Sergei Diaghilev in the 1980 film 'Nijinsky.'
The Contemporary Art Museum at Saint Petersburg State University is named in honor of Sergei Diaghilev.
Answer: True
The source states that the Contemporary Art Museum at Saint Petersburg State University is named in honor of Sergei Diaghilev.
Who is primarily known as the founder of the influential dance company Ballets Russes?
Answer: Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev
According to Coco Chanel, what did Diaghilev 'invent for foreigners'?
Answer: Russia
How did the new Soviet regime react to Sergei Diaghilev after the Russian Revolution of 1917?
Answer: They condemned him as an example of 'bourgeois decadence.'
Which former member of the Ballets Russes went on to found ballet in the United States?
Answer: George Balanchine
What significant humanitarian effort is Serge Lifar recognized for during World War II?
Answer: Saving many Jewish and other minority dancers from Nazi concentration camps.
Ruth Page made significant contributions to American ballet after dancing with the Ballets Russes by doing what?
Answer: Founding her own ballet troupes in Chicago, including the Chicago Opera Ballet.
Which 1948 film is widely believed to have drawn inspiration from Sergei Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes, recreating elements like a spotlight tribute to Anna Pavlova?
Answer: The Red Shoes
What was the cause of Sergei Diaghilev's death in Venice on August 19, 1929?
Answer: Diabetes
Where is Sergei Diaghilev's final resting place located?
Answer: San Michele island, near Venice
What significant archival collection related to Diaghilev and Stravinsky is preserved at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London?
Answer: The Ekstrom Collection of the Diaghilev and Stravinsky Foundation
Who portrayed Sergei Diaghilev in the 1980 film 'Nijinsky'?
Answer: Alan Bates