Coco & Igor
Encyclopedia
Coco and Igor is a 2002 novel by Chris Greenhalgh
.
Set mainly in Paris in 1920, the novel is based on a possible real-life affair between Coco Chanel
and Igor Stravinsky
.
has its Paris premiere on 29 May 1913. Coco is mesmerized by the power of Igor’s composition, but the audience is scandalized by its discordant, rhythmic music and Nijinsky's
primitive choreography.
Coco finally meets Igor seven years later, at a dinner hosted by Sergei Diaghilev
, impresario of the Ballets Russes
. Igor has been forced to flee Russia – with his wife and four children – following the Russian Revolution. Coco invites him to bring his family to stay with her at her villa in Garches
– 'Bel Respiro'.
Couturière and composer soon begin an affair. Both experience a surge of creativity; while Coco creates Chanel No. 5
(with perfumer Ernest Beaux
), Igor’s compositions display a new, liberated style. But Igor’s wife, Katerina, becomes ill with consumption
and an unbearable tension takes hold of 'Bel Respiro' and its occupants.
, directed by Jan Kounen
and starring Anna Mouglalis
and Mads Mikkelsen
. The film was selected to occupy the prestigious closing slot at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival
on 24 May 2009.
Chris Greenhalgh
Chris Greenhalgh is a British novelist, screenwriter, teacher and poet.-Life:Chris Greenhalgh was born in 1963 and brought up in Manchester. After studying English literature at university, he lived and worked for five years in Italy and Athens. Upon his return to England, he completed his doctoral...
.
Set mainly in Paris in 1920, the novel is based on a possible real-life affair between Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel
Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel was a pioneering French fashion designer whose modernist thought, menswear-inspired fashions, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her an important figure in 20th-century fashion. She was the founder of one of the most famous fashion brands, Chanel...
and Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
.
Plot summary
Stravinsky’s The Rite of SpringThe Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring, original French title Le sacre du printemps , is a ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky; choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky; and concept, set design and costumes by Nicholas Roerich...
has its Paris premiere on 29 May 1913. Coco is mesmerized by the power of Igor’s composition, but the audience is scandalized by its discordant, rhythmic music and Nijinsky's
Vaslav Nijinsky
Vaslav Nijinsky was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer of Polish descent, cited as the greatest male dancer of the 20th century. He grew to be celebrated for his virtuosity and for the depth and intensity of his characterizations...
primitive choreography.
Coco finally meets Igor seven years later, at a dinner hosted by Sergei Diaghilev
Sergei Diaghilev
Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev , usually referred to outside of Russia as Serge, was a Russian art critic, patron, ballet impresario and founder of the Ballets Russes, from which many famous dancers and choreographers would arise.-Early life and career:...
, impresario of the Ballets Russes
Ballets Russes
The Ballets Russes was an itinerant ballet company from Russia which performed between 1909 and 1929 in many countries. Directed by Sergei Diaghilev, it is regarded as the greatest ballet company of the 20th century. Many of its dancers originated from the Imperial Ballet of Saint Petersburg...
. Igor has been forced to flee Russia – with his wife and four children – following the Russian Revolution. Coco invites him to bring his family to stay with her at her villa in Garches
Garches
Garches is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.Garches has remained largely residential, but is also the location of the Hôpital Raymond Poincaré , which specialises in traumatology, road accidents and physiotherapy.-19 January Monument:The...
– 'Bel Respiro'.
Couturière and composer soon begin an affair. Both experience a surge of creativity; while Coco creates Chanel No. 5
Chanel No. 5
Chanel No. 5 is the first perfume launched by Parisian couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. The French government reports that a bottle of Chanel No. 5 is sold every thirty seconds and generates sales of $100 million a year. It was developed by Russian-French chemist and perfumer Ernest Beaux...
(with perfumer Ernest Beaux
Ernest Beaux
Ernest Beaux , was a Russian and French perfumer best known for creating Chanel No. 5, perhaps the world's most famous perfume.- Family background :...
), Igor’s compositions display a new, liberated style. But Igor’s wife, Katerina, becomes ill with consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and an unbearable tension takes hold of 'Bel Respiro' and its occupants.
Structure
The piano keyboard operates as a framework for the novel. There are eighty-eight chapters, corresponding to the number of keys on a piano.Reviews
- Coco and Igor, Review at VogueVogue (British magazine)The British edition of Vogue is a fashion magazine that has been published since 1916.When British Vogue was launched, it was the first overseas edition of an existing fashion magazine. Under the magazine's first editor, Elspeth Champcommunal, the magazine was essentially the same as the American...
(11 June 2002) - "Eau de rancour" by Peter ConradPeter Conrad (academic)Peter Conrad is an Australian-born academic specializing in English literature, currently teaching at Christ Church at Oxford University....
, The ObserverThe ObserverThe Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
(30 June 2002) - "Books: Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky" by Stephanie Green, The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
(6 December 2009)
Film adaptation
Greenhalgh adapted his novel for the 2009 film Coco Chanel & Igor StravinskyCoco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky is a 2009 French film directed by Jan Kounen. It was chosen as the Closing Film of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, and was shown on 24 May 2009....
, directed by Jan Kounen
Jan Kounen
Jan Kounen is a Dutch-born French film director and producer.In France, he is mostly known for his films Dobermann , Blueberry, l'experience secrete and 99 francs ....
and starring Anna Mouglalis
Anna Mouglalis
-Biography:Anna Mouglalis was born in Nantes, Loire-Atlantique, to her Greek father and French mother. She spent her youth in the Var département, before moving back to Nantes with her family. Her father is a doctor and her mother is a masseuse. Until 2001 she studied at the Conservatoire National...
and Mads Mikkelsen
Mads Mikkelsen
' is a Danish actor.-Life and career:Mikkelsen was born in the Østerbro area of Copenhagen, the son of Bente Christiansen and Henning Mikkelsen, a cab driver. He is the brother of actor Lars Mikkelsen. After attending Århus Theatre School, he made his film debut in the movie Pusher...
. The film was selected to occupy the prestigious closing slot at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival
2009 Cannes Film Festival
The 62nd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 13 to May 24, 2009. French actress Isabelle Huppert was the President of the Jury. It was announced on March 19, 2009, that Pixar's film Up would open the festival...
on 24 May 2009.
English
- UK hardback: Headline Review, 1 July 2002 (ISBN 0-7553-0086-6)
- UK paperback: Headline Review, 7 July 2003 (ISBN 978-0755300877)
- US trade paperback: Riverhead BooksRiverhead BooksRiverhead Books is a division of Penguin Group .Notable books and major bestsellers published by Riverhead include Journals by Kurt Cobain; The Art of Happiness by His Holiness the Dalai Lama; The Color of Water by James McBride; Native Speaker, A Gesture Life, and Aloft by Chang-rae Lee; Fever...
(an imprint of Penguin USAPenguin GroupThe Penguin Group is a trade book publisher, the largest in the world , having overtaken Random House in 2009. The Penguin Group is the name of the incorporated division of parent Pearson PLC that oversees these publishing operations...
), 1 December 2009 (ISBN 978-1594484551)
Translations
Coco and Igor has been translated into several languages, including:- French: 'Coco et Igor' – Calmann-Levy, 8 April 2009, translated by Elsa Maggion (ISBN 978-2702139813)
- Russian: 'Villa Bel Respiro' – Symposium, 1 June 2009 (ISBN 978-8-87-4966851)
- Polish: 'Coco i Igor' – Wydawnictwo Amber, 2002, translated by Barbara Przbylowska (ISBN 83-241-0170-5)
- Greek: 'Coco and Igor' – Empeiria, November 2003, translated by Persa Koumoutsi (ISBN 960-417-044-9)
- Chinese: 'Coco and Igor' – Sun Color Culture Publishing Co. Ltd, October 2009 (ISBN 978-9862291764)