Remembering Giuseppina
archival collage project
by Renée Meiffren-Lézine based on excerpts from Ivor Guest’s Ballet of the Second Empire.
“I have seen many maitres de ballet at the Opera,” said Perrin in his old age to the writer, Antonin Proust, “but of them all, Saint-Leon was the only one who could build up a ballet or a divertissement to perfection, and render it clear, concise and intelligible.”
“In the summer of 1867, after a successful tenure as Director of the Opera, Perrin once again entrusted the creation of the next ballet to the proven team of Saint-Leon, Nuitter, and Delibes, who had earlier collaborated harmoniously on La Source.”
“Though Nuitter originally envisioned Leontine Beaugrand as the heroine in his ballet scenario, Perrin, out of business prudence, favored a more prominent star, and by the time choreography began in summer 1868, Adele Grantzow had been chosen for the leading role.”
“Saint-Leon returned to St Petersburg due to ill-health, hoping for relief, but instead his suffering increased. After enduring extreme discomfort, he found relief when an artist friend recognized his symptoms, introduced him to a new doctor, and after two weeks of treatment, he slept in bed for the first time on January 8th, 1869, finally hopeful for a cure.”
“In 1869, with lead dancer Adele Grantzow ill and unable to perform, Perrin and Saint-Leon sought a replacement, and eventually found their solution in a young ballerina from Mme Dominique's class, Giuseppina Bozzacchi, despite an unsuccessful search by Delibes in Italy.”