Fonteyn and Nureyev
London: Orbis Publishing, 1979. Item #06682
"To Dear Leslie..."
Rudolf Nureyev's Presentation Copy to Leslie Bricusse
With a Contemporary Archive from Nureyev's Celebrated West End Production of The King and I
NUREYEV, Rudolf. BLAND, Alexander. Fonteyn and Nureyev. The Story of a Partnership. London: Orbis Publishing Limited, [1979].
First edition. Large quarto (11 3/8 x 8 7/8 inches; 289 x 226 mm.). 207, [1] pp. Profusely illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs documenting one of the greatest artistic partnerships in the history of ballet.
Publisher's black cloth, spine lettered in silver. A fine copy in the original pictorial dust jacket with only trivial rubbing at the extremities.
Warmly inscribed by Rudolf Nureyev on the title-page:
"To Dear Leslie
my best wishes
Rudolf Nureyev."
A warm personal presentation to the Academy Award-winning lyricist and composer Leslie Bricusse, whose remarkable circle of friends and collaborators extended across every branch of the performing arts. Although Nureyev signed comparatively few books during his lifetime, presentation copies to distinguished contemporaries are decidedly uncommon, making the present volume an especially attractive association.
Alexander Bland's authoritative account celebrates one of the defining artistic partnerships of the twentieth century. When Rudolf Nureyev defected from the Soviet Union in 1961 and later partnered Dame Margot Fonteyn, the two dancers transformed classical ballet, combining Fonteyn's lyrical refinement with Nureyev's extraordinary athleticism and magnetic stage presence. Their performances together became legendary, introducing ballet to an unprecedented international audience and establishing one of the most celebrated partnerships in theatrical history.
Accompanying the volume is an original archive relating to Nureyev's celebrated appearance as the King of Siam in the London revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I at the Playhouse Theatre (1989–1990), comprising:
the original illustrated souvenir programme;
the official Playhouse Theatre programme;
sixteen original promotional flyers issued for the production;
an original feature article, "Two Who Transformed Their Worlds," discussing Nureyev's remarkable transition from ballet legend to musical theater.
This material documents one of the most unexpected chapters of Nureyev's extraordinary career. Having conquered the ballet world, he surprised critics and audiences alike by undertaking the demanding dramatic role of the King of Siam, bringing his immense charisma to one of the great classics of the musical stage. The production attracted international attention and remains one of the defining theatrical events of Nureyev's later years.
Together, the inscribed volume and accompanying theatrical archive create a cohesive record of Nureyev's enduring relationship with the performing arts beyond ballet. Preserved in Leslie Bricusse's library, the ensemble unites two internationally celebrated artists whose achievements transformed their respective disciplines—Nureyev through dance and Bricusse through musical theater, film and song.
Provenance: From the library of Leslie Bricusse (1931–2021).
Price: $1,250.00