Contract signed by Serge Diaghilev and Gabriel Astruc, Paris, 21 June 1913

Serge Diaghilev (1872-1929) and Gabriel Astruc (1864-1938)
Contract signed by Serge Diaghilev and Gabriel Astruc, Paris, 21 June 1913
In French. Two pages, 173 x 245mm, two further signatories, handwritten corrections and marginal annotations. Provenance: Sotheby's, 27 November 1980, lot 232.

Plans for performances of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov and Khovanshchina in London. The contract authorises the loan from the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées to Diaghilev of the costumes and sets of the two operas for planned performances in London, binding Diaghilev to look after their shipping and conservation.

Astruc was founder and director of the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées: he met Diaghilev in the spring of 1906 and a year later organised the Concerts Historiques Russes with Diaghilev at the Opera.