Lot no. 26
Konstantin Alexeyevich Korovin (Moscow, 1861 - Paris, 1939)
Preparatory design for the cover of the programme for the opera "Le Coq d'Or" (The Golden Cockerel)
Ink and gouache on brown paper, signed lower right "C. Korovine". Framed.
Sight size: 37 x 26 cm
Enclosed:
- A coloured stencil engraving of the cover of the programme.
Sight size: 37 x 26 cm
- The cover of the programme for the performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Le Coq d'Or", given on the occasion of the Gala de la
Section Bruxelloise de l'Association Générale de la Presse Belge at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie on 20 November 1937
Dimensions: 38 x 28 cm (wear).
- The magazine "L'éventail" of 26 September 1937 devoted to the programme of the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels
(tears)
Provenance
- Grégoire HALEVY dit Grégoire RAISSOFF (18.. - Paris, 1973), opera tenor.
- Then by descent.
History
Premiered in Moscow in 1909, Rimsky-Korsakov's three-act opera "The Golden Cockerel", based on a verse story by Pushkin,
satire of Tsarist power disguised as an orientalist fairytale, it was censured by the Russian authorities.
It was censored during the composer's lifetime. From the outset, the sets and costumes were entrusted to Constantin
Korovine, the Imperial Theatre's main set designer at the time, who created a rich visual universe inspired by
Russian motifs.
Twenty-five years later, in 1934, Grégoire Raïssoff, the tenor who had played the role of the Astrologer in the first performances in
performances in 1910, decided to recreate the opera in Paris, at his own expense. For this revival, faithful to the original spirit, he called on
Korovine himself, now exiled in France, who took up and adapted his own 1909 models for this new production.
production. Produced in the Paris workshops, the sets (more than 1,500 m² of painted canvas) and the two hundred costumes
were exceptionally refined, including silks, brocades, most of which were painted at the end and applied with
and applied with gold and silver powders.
Some of the costumes were sold at a Paris auction in 1978 by Grégoire Raïssoff's daughter, but the sets presented in this sale are completely new.
in this sale are completely new. They were all made by Korovine for this 1934 production, and have been preserved to this day in the descendants of Grégoire Raïssoff.
Grégoire Raïssoff's descendants. This rediscovery sheds valuable light on Korovine's body of work
This rediscovery sheds valuable light on Korovine's scenographic corpus, revealing a late and little-known facet of his work, a few years before his death, and testifying to his sincere commitment to opera and ballet right up to the end of his career.
Expert: Maxime Charron - 06 5000 6551 - maxime-charron.com
Lots can be collected by appointment from 17 September in Paris XVe (Métro : Pasteur)
See original version (French) Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact organization
Drawings, watercolours and pastels
About the sale
Find similar lots for sale on Interencheres
See more lots for sale on Interencheres
Value:€400 - €500
Live
06/09/2026
Offered by ALDE
Value:€200 - €300
Live
06/09/2026
Offered by ALDE
Value:€300 - €400
Live
06/09/2026
Offered by ALDE
Value:€200 - €300
Live
06/09/2026
Offered by ALDE
Value:€1,500 - €2,000
Live
06/09/2026
Offered by ALDE
Value:€400 - €500
Live
06/15/2026
Offered by KÂ- MONDO / KAPANDJI MORHANGE
Value:€1,000 - €1,200
Timed
Offered by DE BAECQUE et Associés - Lyon
Timed
Offered by Bartleby
Timed
Offered by Bartleby
Value:€3,000 - €5,000
Live
06/23/2026
Offered by Rossini
Value:€200 - €300
Live
06/24/2026
Offered by Arenberg Auctions