![Moncion, Francisco. (1918–1995) [Lynes, George Platt. (1907–1955)] Signed Photograph as the Dark Angel in Balanchine's "Orpheus"](http://www.schubertiademusic.com/cdn/shop/files/Moncion_Francisco_Signed_Photograph_20428.jpg?v=1722190090)
Signed photograph of the great dancer in costume as the Dark Angel in George Balanchine's Orpheus, attributed to George Platt Lynes and almost certainly taken in his studio at the time of the ballet's premiere in 1948. Moncion stands square to the camera on a bare stage against a plain backdrop, arms crossed high over his chest, his face split down the middle by the black cord of Isamu Noguchi's costume. Inscribed in blue ink to the lower right, "To Paul, / from / the Dark Angel, / Francisco Moncion." No photographer's stamp, though this series is well recorded as by Lynes . Irregular trim, else fine. 7.5 x 9.25 inches; 19 x 23.5 cm.
Set to a score commissioned from Stravinsky, Orpheus was first given by Ballet Society at City Center on 28 April 1948, with Nicholas Magallanes as Orpheus and Moncion as the Dark Angel who leads him into the underworld. Its success led directly to City Center's invitation to Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein to form a resident company, the New York City Ballet. Noguchi designed both the sets and the costumes, and his lyre for Orpheus remains the company's emblem. For the Dark Angel he made the dancer into a moving sculpture: over plain black tights and a fitted top, a thick padded black cord coils around the body, bands the waist and thighs, rises in a halo-like ring behind the head and falls in a single vertical line straight down the face, a drawing in space that marks the angel out as Orpheus's guide between two worlds.
Lynes photographed the productions of Ballet Society and the early New York City Ballet for Kirstein, restaging the dancers in costume in his East 52nd Street studio against a seamless backdrop, as here. His 1948 Orpheus photographs, of the same size as the present print, are held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Yale University Art Gallery.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Moncion was a founding member of the New York City Ballet, with which he danced for more than three decades, creating roles in many ballets by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins.
From the collection of Paul McMahon, a critic, photographer and artist who worked for more than 13 years touring with Marlene Dietrich as the icon's stage manager, announcer, dresser, secretary and escort, and later spent 25 years as an arts and entertainment reviewer and photographer with Gay Community News, Esplanade, Tommy's Connection, The Mirror, Bay Windows and other publications.
Signed photograph of the great dancer in costume as the Dark Angel in George Balanchine's Orpheus, attributed to George Platt Lynes and almost certainly taken in his studio at the time of the ballet's premiere in 1948. Moncion stands square to the camera on a bare stage against a plain backdrop, arms crossed high over his chest, his face split down the middle by the black cord of Isamu Noguchi's costume. Inscribed in blue ink to the lower right, "To Paul, / from / the Dark Angel, / Francisco Moncion." No photographer's stamp, though this series is well recorded as by Lynes . Irregular trim, else fine. 7.5 x 9.25 inches; 19 x 23.5 cm.
Set to a score commissioned from Stravinsky, Orpheus was first given by Ballet Society at City Center on 28 April 1948, with Nicholas Magallanes as Orpheus and Moncion as the Dark Angel who leads him into the underworld. Its success led directly to City Center's invitation to Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein to form a resident company, the New York City Ballet. Noguchi designed both the sets and the costumes, and his lyre for Orpheus remains the company's emblem. For the Dark Angel he made the dancer into a moving sculpture: over plain black tights and a fitted top, a thick padded black cord coils around the body, bands the waist and thighs, rises in a halo-like ring behind the head and falls in a single vertical line straight down the face, a drawing in space that marks the angel out as Orpheus's guide between two worlds.
Lynes photographed the productions of Ballet Society and the early New York City Ballet for Kirstein, restaging the dancers in costume in his East 52nd Street studio against a seamless backdrop, as here. His 1948 Orpheus photographs, of the same size as the present print, are held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Yale University Art Gallery.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Moncion was a founding member of the New York City Ballet, with which he danced for more than three decades, creating roles in many ballets by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins.
From the collection of Paul McMahon, a critic, photographer and artist who worked for more than 13 years touring with Marlene Dietrich as the icon's stage manager, announcer, dresser, secretary and escort, and later spent 25 years as an arts and entertainment reviewer and photographer with Gay Community News, Esplanade, Tommy's Connection, The Mirror, Bay Windows and other publications.