Prince Serge Wolkonsky (1860 - 1937) was an influential Russian theatrical worker, one of the first Russian proponents of eurhythmics, pupil and friend of Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, and creator of an original system of actor's training that included both expressive gesture and expressive speech.In 1899 Wolkonsky became Director of the Imperial Theatres, the post for which he is most remembered. Although he held the position only until 1902, he achieved a great deal; Serge Diaghilev was his immediate assistant, and Wolkonsky entrusted him with the publication of the Annual of the Imperial Theatres in 1900. New names appeared in the theaters, such as painters Alexandre Benois, Konstantin Somov, and Léon Bakst.In this first part of his two-volume reminiscences he discusses his childhood and youth, his recollections of the Russian and German theatre, opera, and his travels in Europe and America.