Description:

Konstantin Stanislavski
[Moscow], November 25, 1925
Konstantin Stanislavski Establishes The Private Opera Studio in Moscow: 2 Letters Mentioning First Performance, Excessively Rare!
TLS
A superb and incredibly rare pair of typed signed letters by Stanislavski, in which the pioneering theatre producer and creator of "the system" of acting solicits funds to establish an Opera House in Moscow, and announces its first performance! The pair dates from November 1925, with details of each letter below. Only a handful of Stanislavski letters have come to market in the last 18 years -- making this set of two letters scarce and desirable indeed!

1. The first letter, signed "K. Stanislavski" [n.p. but Moscow, n.d. but ca. fall 1925], is directed to Vyacheslav Pavlovich and reads, in part: "…The founding members of the society Friends of the Opera Studio..ask you to not refuse the kindness of joining the organizational group of the said Society, on behalf of which, in accordance with [paragraph] 8 of the Charter, approved by the Moscow City Council under No. 6468, the first meeting of the Society's members will soon be convened. If you agree, please do not refuse to sign the attached invitation…". Signed by Stanislavski next to the title "People's Artist of the Republic." 1p. 6.75" x 8.5". Light toning to left edge a bit of wear thereon, with mailing folds as expected. Very good overall.

2. The second letter, also signed "K. Stanislavski", [n.p. but Moscow], November 25, 1925, is written on letterhead of the "Society of Friends of the Opera Studio - National Artist of the Republic K. S. Stanislavski" and directed again to Vyacheslav Pavlovich, in part: "…I inform you that on Thursday, the 26th of November on the premises of the Studio, the First Meeting of the Council of the Society of Friends of the Studio will take place. I kindly ask for your attendance. Before the meeting there will be a screening of the Studio's early work on the opera 'The Tsar's Bride'…". 1p. 8.5" x 11". A small tear at left margin, light toning to edges, moderate mailing folds and overall good.

In 1925, Stanislavski relaunched the state-supported theatre Moscow Art Theatre (MAT) as the "Stanislavski Opera Studio" with the approval of the Bolsheviks. In 1926, it moved to the Dmitrovsky Theatre and became the "Stanislavski Opera Studio-Theatre".

The opera mentioned by Stanislavski titled "The Tsar's Bride," was written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and performed by the Private Opera House, on November 26, 1926. That year, Stanislavski would also direct Nicholas I and the Decembrists by Aleksandr Kugel, as well as Merchants of Glory by Marcel Pagnol and The Days of the Turbins by Mikhail Bulgakov.

Konstantin Stanislavski (1863-1938) is considered by many to be the most influential figure in the history of acting and performance, with his revolutionary method of training still dominates the world of theatre and film to this day. He founded the world-renowned Moscow Art Theatre in 1898, whose performances under Stanislavski's direction reflected his conviction that theatre could be an agent for social change. His system of training actors harnesses the use of an actor's emotional memory as well as other techniques such as engaging the actors' conscious thought and will to tap into deeper psychological processes, and thus enrich his or her acting.

Stanislavski's groundbreaking technique was adopted in the United States by Lee Strasberg, founder of the highly-regarded Group Theatre, and developed into what he terms "The Method" (now known as method acting). Strasberg went on to become the director of The Actor's Studio in New York City, considered by some to be the nation's most prestigious acting school.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: TLS

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