Serge Lifar as the Prodigal Son. Photo by Roger Violett, 1929 The most complete account of the creation of the original Prodigal Son ballet is found in the diaries of Serge Prokofiev, the composer of the ballet. From his commission in October, 1928 to premiere in May, 1929, his entries describe the personal animosity that existed between himself and Balanchine, which partly explains why Balanchine was so apathetic about reviving the ballet for NYCB decades later.  Excerpts fr

From Diaghilev and the Ballet Russe by Boris Kochno: A romantic reverie in one act by Michel Fokine. Music by Frédéric Chopin, seven piano pieces orchestrated for the Ballets Russes production by Sergei Taneyev, Anatole Liadov, Alexander Glazounov, Nicholas. Tcher-epnine, and Igor Stravinsky. Choreography by Michel Fokine. Décor and costumes by Alexandre Benois. (In 1917, a new set by Carlo Sokrate replaced the Benois décor.) First performance by the Ballets Russes: Théâtre