Chagall and music

This exhibition catalogue for a vibrantly colourful, multidisciplinary traveling show explores the profound connection between Chagall and music.

As both subject and muse, this omnipresent relationship has its roots in his family history, and in the Jewish culture of his native city, Vitebsk.

This lavishly illustrated catalogue explores how music functioned as a central theme and inspiration in Chagall's composition and color, beginning with paintings and sketches in 1911 through the 1960s.

Included here are his theatre commissions: the foyer panels for the Jewish Art Theatre (Moscow, 1919-1920), the ceiling of the Paris Opera (1964), and the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center (1966).

His designs for the ballet, including Aleko (Mexico, 1942), The Firebird (New York, 1945), Daphnis and Chloe(1958) and The Magic Flute (1967), reveal the underlying synergy in his work between music, set, and costume.

A wide selection of paintings, photographs, preparatory sketches, and ceramics (many from private collections) convey the centrality and importance of music and color in Chagall's career. SELLING POINTS: Highlights the role of music as a creative engine in Chagall's work, and how this was manifested in his art throughout his career, particularly in his use of colour Includes paintings, gouaches, sketches, maquettes, costume design, stage sets, ceramics, stained glass, and archival photographs of the artist, his family, and installations 580 colour, 20 b/w