Natasha's Dance (139 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

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BOOK: Natasha's Dance
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127
128
Lev was re-arrested in March 1938. For eight months he was held and tortured in Leningrad’s Kre
Lev was re-arrested in March 1938. For eight months he was held and tortured in Leningrad’s Kre
Lev was re-arrested in March 1938. For eight months he was held and tortured in Leningrad’s Kre
Requiem
* The sentence was later changed to five years’ labour in the gulag at Norilsk.
* The sentence was later changed to five years’ labour in the gulag at Norilsk.
* The sentence was later changed to five years’ labour in the gulag at Norilsk.
*
As Akhmatova explained in the short prose piece ‘Instead of a Preface’
As Akhmatova explained in the short prose piece ‘Instead of a Preface’
As Akhmatova explained in the short prose piece ‘Instead of a Preface’
(1957):
(1957):
(1957):
:
In the terrible years of the Yezhov terror, I spent seventeen months in the prison lines o
In the terrible years of the Yezhov terror, I spent seventeen months in the prison lines o
In the terrible years of the Yezhov terror, I spent seventeen months in the prison lines o
’Can you describe this?’
’Can you describe this?’
’Can you describe this?’
And I answered, ‘Yes I can.’
And I answered, ‘Yes I can.’
And I answered, ‘Yes I can.’
Then something that looked like a smile passed over what had once been her face.12’
Then something that looked like a smile passed over what had once been her face.12’
Then something that looked like a smile passed over what had once been her face.12’
12
In Requiem Akhmatova became the people’s voice. The poem represented a decisive m
In Requiem Akhmatova became the people’s voice. The poem represented a decisive m
In Requiem Akhmatova became the people’s voice. The poem represented a decisive m
Requiem
Requiem,
130
This was when the ones who smiled
This was when the ones who smiled
This was when the ones who smiled
Were the dead, glad to be at rest.
Were the dead, glad to be at rest.
Were the dead, glad to be at rest.
And like a useless appendage, Leningrad
And like a useless appendage, Leningrad
And like a useless appendage, Leningrad
Swung from its prisons.
Swung from its prisons.
Swung from its prisons.
And when, senseless from torment,
And when, senseless from torment,
And when, senseless from torment,
Regiments of convicts marched,
Regiments of convicts marched,
Regiments of convicts marched,
And the short songs of farewell
And the short songs of farewell
And the short songs of farewell
Were sung by locomotive whistles.
Were sung by locomotive whistles.
Were sung by locomotive whistles.
The stars of death stood above us
The stars of death stood above us
The stars of death stood above us
And innocent Russia writhed
And innocent Russia writhed
And innocent Russia writhed
Under bloody boots
Under bloody boots
Under bloody boots
And under the tyres of the Black Marias.131
And under the tyres of the Black Marias.131
And under the tyres of the Black Marias.131
131
This was when Akhmatova’s decision to remain in Russia began to make sense. She had sha
This was when Akhmatova’s decision to remain in Russia began to make sense. She had sha
This was when Akhmatova’s decision to remain in Russia began to make sense. She had sha
No, not under the vault of alien skies,
No, not under the vault of alien skies,
No, not under the vault of alien skies,
And not under the shelter of alien wings -
And not under the shelter of alien wings -
And not under the shelter of alien wings -
I was with my people then,
I was with my people then,
I was with my people then,
There, where my people, unfortunately, were.132
There, where my people, unfortunately, were.132
There, where my people, unfortunately, were.132
132
5
5
5
5
5
Some time at the end of the 1940s Akhmatova was walking with Nadezhda Mandelstam in Lening
Some time at the end of the 1940s Akhmatova was walking with Nadezhda Mandelstam in Lening
Some time at the end of the 1940s Akhmatova was walking with Nadezhda Mandelstam in Lening
133
Doctor Zhivago,
134
135
Through the peripeteia of the past And the years of war and poverty Silently I came to reco
Through the peripeteia of the past And the years of war and poverty Silently I came to reco
Through the peripeteia of the past And the years of war and poverty Silently I came to reco
Overcoming my feelings of love I observed in worship Old women, residents Students and loc
Overcoming my feelings of love I observed in worship Old women, residents Students and loc
Overcoming my feelings of love I observed in worship Old women, residents Students and loc
136
As the German armies crossed the Soviet border, on 22 June 1941, Vyacheslav Molotov, the
As the German armies crossed the Soviet border, on 22 June 1941, Vyacheslav Molotov, the
As the German armies crossed the Soviet border, on 22 June 1941, Vyacheslav Molotov, the
137
Kras-naia zvezda,
138
139
Russia’s artists enjoyed a new freedom and responsibility in the war years. Poets who had b
Russia’s artists enjoyed a new freedom and responsibility in the war years. Poets who had b
Russia’s artists enjoyed a new freedom and responsibility in the war years. Poets who had b
the poetry of Blok, Bryusov, Sologub, Esenin, Tsvetaeva, Mayakovsky, was widely read, le
the poetry of Blok, Bryusov, Sologub, Esenin, Tsvetaeva, Mayakovsky, was widely read, le
the poetry of Blok, Bryusov, Sologub, Esenin, Tsvetaeva, Mayakovsky, was widely read, le
140
Zoshchenko received about 6,000 letters in one year. Many of them came from readers who said
Zoshchenko received about 6,000 letters in one year. Many of them came from readers who said
Zoshchenko received about 6,000 letters in one year. Many of them came from readers who said
141
From Six Books.
142
In her patriotic poem ‘Courage’ (published in the Soviet press in February 1942) Akhmat
In her patriotic poem ‘Courage’ (published in the Soviet press in February 1942) Akhmat
In her patriotic poem ‘Courage’ (published in the Soviet press in February 1942) Akhmat
We know what lies in balance at this moment, And what is happening right now. The hour for co
We know what lies in balance at this moment, And what is happening right now. The hour for co
We know what lies in balance at this moment, And what is happening right now. The hour for co
143
In the first months of the war Akhmatova joined the Civil Defence in Leningrad. ‘I rememb
In the first months of the war Akhmatova joined the Civil Defence in Leningrad. ‘I rememb
In the first months of the war Akhmatova joined the Civil Defence in Leningrad. ‘I rememb
144
prepared to bow to it in this hour of need. Akhmatova was sick, so it was agreed to record h
prepared to bow to it in this hour of need. Akhmatova was sick, so it was agreed to record h
prepared to bow to it in this hour of need. Akhmatova was sick, so it was agreed to record h
Our descendants will honour every mother who lived at the time of the war, but their gaze w
Our descendants will honour every mother who lived at the time of the war, but their gaze w
Our descendants will honour every mother who lived at the time of the war, but their gaze w
145
Shostakovich also took part in the radio broadcast. He and Akhmatova had never met, even th
Shostakovich also took part in the radio broadcast. He and Akhmatova had never met, even th
Shostakovich also took part in the radio broadcast. He and Akhmatova had never met, even th
146
* Akhmatova rarely missed a Shostakovich premiere. After the first performance of his
* Akhmatova rarely missed a Shostakovich premiere. After the first performance of his
* Akhmatova rarely missed a Shostakovich premiere. After the first performance of his
Poems:
Shostakovich: A Life Rtemembered (London,
Later that same day, 16 September 1941, the Germans broke through to the gates of Leningrad
Later that same day, 16 September 1941, the Germans broke through to the gates of Leningrad
Later that same day, 16 September 1941, the Germans broke through to the gates of Leningrad
147
148
The symphony was resonant with themes of Petersburg: its lyrical beauty and classicism, ev
The symphony was resonant with themes of Petersburg: its lyrical beauty and classicism, ev
The symphony was resonant with themes of Petersburg: its lyrical beauty and classicism, ev
Bolero-like
composer’s ‘Socialist Realist’ rejoinder to those who had attacked Lady Macbeth), which r
composer’s ‘Socialist Realist’ rejoinder to those who had attacked Lady Macbeth), which r
composer’s ‘Socialist Realist’ rejoinder to those who had attacked Lady Macbeth), which r
Lady Macbeth),
149
150
For it to achieve its symbolic goal, it was vital for that symphony to be performed in Lenin
For it to achieve its symbolic goal, it was vital for that symphony to be performed in Lenin
For it to achieve its symbolic goal, it was vital for that symphony to be performed in Lenin
Many people cried at the concert. Some people cried because that was the only way they co
Many people cried at the concert. Some people cried because that was the only way they co
Many people cried at the concert. Some people cried because that was the only way they co
151
The war was a period of productivity and relative creative liberty for Russia’s compos
The war was a period of productivity and relative creative liberty for Russia’s compos
The war was a period of productivity and relative creative liberty for Russia’s compos
or perhaps relieved by the temporary relaxation of the Stalinist Terror, they responde
or perhaps relieved by the temporary relaxation of the Stalinist Terror, they responde
or perhaps relieved by the temporary relaxation of the Stalinist Terror, they responde
152
Prokofiev was particularly eager to prove his commitment to the national cause. After eigh
Prokofiev was particularly eager to prove his commitment to the national cause. After eigh
Prokofiev was particularly eager to prove his commitment to the national cause. After eigh
153
Boris Godunov,
War and Peace
* Sentenced to twenty years’ hard labour in Siberia, Lina Prokofiev was released in 1 9
* Sentenced to twenty years’ hard labour in Siberia, Lina Prokofiev was released in 1 9
* Sentenced to twenty years’ hard labour in Siberia, Lina Prokofiev was released in 1 9
against Napoleon and the war against Hitler. The first version of the opera, composed in t
against Napoleon and the war against Hitler. The first version of the opera, composed in t
against Napoleon and the war against Hitler. The first version of the opera, composed in t
154
As he was working on the score of War and Peace Prokofiev was asked by Eisenstein to compo
As he was working on the score of War and Peace Prokofiev was asked by Eisenstein to compo
As he was working on the score of War and Peace Prokofiev was asked by Eisenstein to compo
War and Peace
Ivan the Terrible,
mises-en-scene.
Bezbin Meadow,
Alexander Nevsky
This theatrical ideal lies at the heart of their conception of Alexander Nevsky and Ivan
This theatrical ideal lies at the heart of their conception of Alexander Nevsky and Ivan
This theatrical ideal lies at the heart of their conception of Alexander Nevsky and Ivan
Alexander Nevsky
Ivan the Terrible.
Ivan,
* The two men worked together with Meyerhold on the production of Prokofiev’s opera Set
* The two men worked together with Meyerhold on the production of Prokofiev’s opera Set
* The two men worked together with Meyerhold on the production of Prokofiev’s opera Set
Setnyon Kotko
Die Walkure
Wagner and Russia
1995),
film opens with an overture whose stormy leitmotif is clearly borrowed from Wagner’s Die W
film opens with an overture whose stormy leitmotif is clearly borrowed from Wagner’s Die W
film opens with an overture whose stormy leitmotif is clearly borrowed from Wagner’s Die W
Die Walkure.

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