Sergei Diaghilev Born March 19th

Painting by Leon Bakst

Sergei Diaghilev was born on March 19th, 1872 in Novrogorod, Russia, born to a family whose money came from vodka distilleries, though the family was bankrupt in 1890. While studying law at Saint Petersburg University, Diaghilev took classes at the Convservatory of Music. His dreams of writing music were ended by a professor's blunt assessment, Diaghilev had formed associations in influential art circles. This association would indirectly set him on the path to founding the Ballets Russes, whose dancers included Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinksy, who Diaghilev took as his lover till Nijinsky married.

Read more about Diaghilev at GLBTQ.com and Gay For Today.