Benoit, Nikolai Alexandrovich

Nikolay-Alexander-Mikhail ^[1] was born in Oranienbaum in the family of the famous artist Alexander Nikolaevich Benois and Anna Kind . Along with studying at the gymnasium of K.I. May (1912-1919), he studied with his father and theater artist O.K. Allegri , and in 1916-1918 - in the New Art Studio with V.I. Shukhaev and A. E. Yakovleva . In 1919-1924 he studied at the State Pedagogical Art School (Petrograd State Free Artistic and Training Workshops, the former Imperial Academy of Arts ), which in 1922 was transformed into the Higher Artistic and Technical Institute ( VKHUTEIN ).

Since 1919, he performed scenery at the State Theater, based on sketches by A.N. Benois, M.V.Dobuzhinsky , B.M. Kustodiev, V.A. Schuko. He made his debut as a set designer in the production of the play “ Peer Gynt ” by G. Ibsen at the Petrograd Academic Drama Theater. After the emigration of O.K. Allegri to Italy in 1921, N.A. Benoit became the main artist of the State Theater. In 1923, he made his debut at the Academic Opera and Ballet Theater with the scenery for K. Glazunov ballet . He participated in the exhibitions " World of Art " in 1922 and 1924.

In June 1924, at the invitation of the National Opera, he left for Paris with his wife. Collaborated in the cabaret theater of N. F. Baliev "Chauve-Souris". In Paris, he met with Alexander Sanin , who, in 1925, received an invitation to stage M. Mussorgsky’s production of the Khovanshchina at the La Scala Theater , and recommended Nikolai Benois as a decorator, who moved to Milan on December 22, 1925. In 1926, at the La Scala theater, he performed sketches of sets and costumes for the opera, which the artistic director of the theater A. Toscanini really liked.

In the years 1927-1932, Benoit lived in Rome (Via Vicenza, 31, then Viyale Regina Margherita, 287), where he worked as a stage designer at the Roman Royal Opera House (designed 26 performances). From the end of 1932 he lived again in Milan (Via Dante, 16, then Piazza Maria Adelaide, 2; after his death, a memorial plaque was erected by the USSR Culture Fund and the Milan municipality). In 1937 received Italian citizenship; in 1937-1970 he was the director of the artistic production of the La Scala theater (126 productions; he designed the part with his father). He also designed performances in other theaters in Italy, as well as in Paris, Berlin, Buenos Aires; worked as a movie artist.

In 1964, for the La Scala Theater tour in Russia, he designed the Troubadour by G. Verdi and the Turandot by G. Puccini. In 1965, he collaborated with B. A. Pokrovsky in the production of B. Britten’s opera A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bolshoi Theater . Later, in 1978, he again received an invitation to the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow for the production of J. Verdi's Masquerade Ball. In 1986 he designed for the Bolshoi Theater the opera "Mazepa" by Tchaikovsky directed by S.F. Bondarchuk

N.A. Benoit developed the traditions of the set design of the Silver Age. Winner of the Golden Bibbien Award (1975).

He also worked in drama theater and cinema; performed as a painter and graphic artist, participated in exhibitions of artists.

In 1922 he married Maria Nikolaevna Pavlova (1899-1980). Their son, Roman, was born in Rome on June 25, 1931.

In the late 1950s, he married a second time to Disma De Cecco (1927 - 01.01.2007).

• Art and architecture of the Russian abroad BENOIS Nikolay Aleksandrovich
• Benoit Nikolai Alexandrovich Art Dynasty. Benoit-Lansere-Serebryakov.

• Russian in Italy: Nikolay Alexandrovich Benois
• Nicola Benois (Italian)

• Renzo Allegri Nikolay Benois tells ... Per. from Italian I. Konstantinova. - St. Petersburg: “Peterhof State Museum-Reserve”, 2013.