The Correspondence of the Krzesiński Brothers, 1856–1899
Maria Wosiek
Institute of Art, Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland)
Abstract
The author discusses and extensively quotes from letters written by the dancer Feliks Krzesiński, who settled in Saint Petersburg, to his actor brother Stanisław, who stayed in Poland and worked in provincial theatres. The manuscript collection (267 letters) is held at the Library of the Institute of Art, Polish Academy of Sciences. Apart from the bothers’ exchange, it includes several letters from Matylda Krzesińska the elder, one from Michał Chomiński, and some name day cards written by children. The correspondence mentions various figures from the world of dance, such as Jan Popiel, Barbara Jaworska, Julia, Józef, and Matylda Krzesiński, Marius Petipa, and Marianna Majewska. However, it documents not only ballet life, but also the social life of Polish emigres. The author of the article proposes a thematic categorisation of this epistolographic content: family matters, Russian theatre, Polish theatre, links between ballet and politics. She also discusses at length the economic reality of the period and supplies additional facts and contexts concerning the events described in the letters.
Keywords:
ballet, ballet history, dance, dance history, Feliks Krzesiński, Stanisław Krzesiński, Matylda Krzesińska, Michał Chomiński, Polish dance abroad, emigrationReferences
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Archiwalia: Biblioteka IS PAN
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Authors
Maria WosiekInstitute of Art, Polish Academy of Sciences Poland
Dr Maria Wosiek
theatre historian, specialising in the history of theatre in Poland in the twentieth century, as well as issues relating to theatre in the former Duchy of Lithuania. Professionally involved in Polish Academy of Sciences: Institute of Literary Research and then Institute of Arts (where she received her doctoral degree in 1973). Author of such works as Historia teatrów ludowych: Polskie zespoły zawodowe 1898–1914 [History of Folk Theatres: Polskie zespoły zawodowe 1898-1914] or Repertuar teatrów warszawskich: Teatr Ludowy 1890–1906 [Repertuar teatrów warszawskich: Teatr Ludowy 1890–1906]. Co-editor of the Słownik biograficzny teatru polskiego [Biographical Dictionary of Polish Theatre]. She publishes articles in Pamiętnik Teatralny.
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Copyright (c) 1976 Maria Wosiek
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