Natasha's Dance (154 page)
and 1787. He left its direction to his son, Count Nikolai Petrovich, who was well acquain
86
So, too, was the Russian opera. The Sheremetev theatre began the practice of performing
So, too, was the Russian opera. The Sheremetev theatre began the practice of performing
So, too, was the Russian opera. The Sheremetev theatre began the practice of performing
Anyuta
Misfortune from a Carriage
Calandro
La Forza dell’amore
maestro di capella
* Stepan Degterov, the composer of Minin and Pozharsky (1811), was a former Sheremetev se
* Stepan Degterov, the composer of Minin and Pozharsky (1811), was a former Sheremetev se
* Stepan Degterov, the composer of Minin and Pozharsky (1811), was a former Sheremetev se
Minin and Pozharsky
Berezovsky was Mozart’s fellow student in the composition school of Padre Martini.*
Berezovsky was Mozart’s fellow student in the composition school of Padre Martini.*
Berezovsky was Mozart’s fellow student in the composition school of Padre Martini.*
The love affair between Petersburg and Venice was continued by Glinka, Tchaikovsky and
The love affair between Petersburg and Venice was continued by Glinka, Tchaikovsky and
The love affair between Petersburg and Venice was continued by Glinka, Tchaikovsky and
Ilya Bogatyr
The French were also instrumental in the development of a distinctive Russian musical
The French were also instrumental in the development of a distinctive Russian musical
The French were also instrumental in the development of a distinctive Russian musical
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Singspiels
Anyuta
Annette et
* Berezovsky was elected to the Accademia Philharmonica in Bologna. He returned to Rus
* Berezovsky was elected to the Accademia Philharmonica in Bologna. He returned to Rus
* Berezovsky was elected to the Accademia Philharmonica in Bologna. He returned to Rus
*
Nostalgia
doppelganger
+ This was not the end of the Cavos connection with the Russian opera. Catterino’s son, th
+ This was not the end of the Cavos connection with the Russian opera. Catterino’s son, th
+ This was not the end of the Cavos connection with the Russian opera. Catterino’s son, th
Lubin), St Petersburg Bazaar and The Miller Magician (based on Rousseau’s Le devin du v
Lubin), St Petersburg Bazaar and The Miller Magician (based on Rousseau’s Le devin du v
Lubin), St Petersburg Bazaar and The Miller Magician (based on Rousseau’s Le devin du v
Lubin), St Petersburg Bazaar
The Miller Magician
Le devin du village).
One of the earliest Russian operas was specially commissioned by the Sheremetevs for t
One of the earliest Russian operas was specially commissioned by the Sheremetevs for t
One of the earliest Russian operas was specially commissioned by the Sheremetevs for t
Green with Jealousy, or The Boatman from Kuskovo
87
The design and the decor of the palace and its park contained much theatricality. The high
The design and the decor of the palace and its park contained much theatricality. The high
The design and the decor of the palace and its park contained much theatricality. The high
88
In its everyday routines and public entertainments the palace was a kind of theatre, too
In its everyday routines and public entertainments the palace was a kind of theatre, too
In its everyday routines and public entertainments the palace was a kind of theatre, too
the need to take a leading role - dancing, singing at the piano, playing the coquette. Da
the need to take a leading role - dancing, singing at the piano, playing the coquette. Da
the need to take a leading role - dancing, singing at the piano, playing the coquette. Da
At least three hours he peruses His figure in the looking-glass.89
At least three hours he peruses His figure in the looking-glass.89
At least three hours he peruses His figure in the looking-glass.89
89
Etiquette demanded that they hold themselves and act in the directed form: the way they walke
Etiquette demanded that they hold themselves and act in the directed form: the way they walke
Etiquette demanded that they hold themselves and act in the directed form: the way they walke
The aristocracy of eighteenth-century Russia was aware of acting out its life as if upon a
The aristocracy of eighteenth-century Russia was aware of acting out its life as if upon a
The aristocracy of eighteenth-century Russia was aware of acting out its life as if upon a
boyars
kaftans
These new social manners were expounded in a manual of etiquette,
These new social manners were expounded in a manual of etiquette,
These new social manners were expounded in a manual of etiquette,
* In the Orthodox belief the beard was a mark of God and Christ (both were depicted wearing
* In the Orthodox belief the beard was a mark of God and Christ (both were depicted wearing
* In the Orthodox belief the beard was a mark of God and Christ (both were depicted wearing
The Honourable Mirror to Youth, which Peter had adapted and embellished from the German o
The Honourable Mirror to Youth, which Peter had adapted and embellished from the German o
The Honourable Mirror to Youth, which Peter had adapted and embellished from the German o
The Honourable Mirror to Youth,
90
The Honourable Mirror
91
The diaries and memoirs of the aristocracy are filled with descriptions of how young nob
The diaries and memoirs of the aristocracy are filled with descriptions of how young nob
The diaries and memoirs of the aristocracy are filled with descriptions of how young nob
92
comme il fauf’.
93
The European Russian had a split identity. His mind was a state divided into two. On one le
The European Russian had a split identity. His mind was a state divided into two. On one le
The European Russian had a split identity. His mind was a state divided into two. On one le
only Russians did. This was the legacy from his ancestors which no European influence cou
only Russians did. This was the legacy from his ancestors which no European influence cou
only Russians did. This was the legacy from his ancestors which no European influence cou
The layout of the palace was a map of this divide in the nobleman’s emotional geography.
The layout of the palace was a map of this divide in the nobleman’s emotional geography.
The layout of the palace was a map of this divide in the nobleman’s emotional geography.
94
In 1837 the Winter Palace in St Petersburg was gutted by a fire so immense it could be se
In 1837 the Winter Palace in St Petersburg was gutted by a fire so immense it could be se
In 1837 the Winter Palace in St Petersburg was gutted by a fire so immense it could be se
4. Gerard de la Barthe: A Cure Bath in Moscow, 1790
4. Gerard de la Barthe: A Cure Bath in Moscow, 1790
4. Gerard de la Barthe: A Cure Bath in Moscow, 1790
Gerard de la Barthe:
carts delivered farm produce, a carriage house, a smithy, workshops, stables, cow sheds, a
carts delivered farm produce, a carriage house, a smithy, workshops, stables, cow sheds, a
carts delivered farm produce, a carriage house, a smithy, workshops, stables, cow sheds, a
banya
95
Going to the banya was an old Russian custom. From medieval times it was popularly seen as
Going to the banya was an old Russian custom. From medieval times it was popularly seen as
Going to the banya was an old Russian custom. From medieval times it was popularly seen as
banya
banya
96
The banya was believed to have special healing powers - it was called the ‘people’s first
The banya was believed to have special healing powers - it was called the ‘people’s first
The banya was believed to have special healing powers - it was called the ‘people’s first
banya
third). There were all sorts of magical beliefs associated with it in folklore.97 To go
third). There were all sorts of magical beliefs associated with it in folklore.97 To go
third). There were all sorts of magical beliefs associated with it in folklore.97 To go
97
banya
banya
98
banyans
banya
banya
99
In the palace, the salon upstairs belonged to an entirely different, European world. Ev
In the palace, the salon upstairs belonged to an entirely different, European world. Ev
In the palace, the salon upstairs belonged to an entirely different, European world. Ev
War and Peace,
Eugene Onegin.
culture of the eighteenth century. For the first time in the history of the Russian state th
culture of the eighteenth century. For the first time in the history of the Russian state th
culture of the eighteenth century. For the first time in the history of the Russian state th
100
Women set the manners of the salon: the kissing of the hand, the balletic genuflections and
Women set the manners of the salon: the kissing of the hand, the balletic genuflections and
Women set the manners of the salon: the kissing of the hand, the balletic genuflections and
de rigueur
Eugene Onegin
The conversation sparkled bright; The hostess kept the banter light And quite devoid of af
The conversation sparkled bright; The hostess kept the banter light And quite devoid of af
The conversation sparkled bright; The hostess kept the banter light And quite devoid of af
101
Pushkin said that the point of salon conversation was to flirt (he once claimed that the po
Pushkin said that the point of salon conversation was to flirt (he once claimed that the po
Pushkin said that the point of salon conversation was to flirt (he once claimed that the po
102
The readership of literature in Pushkin’s age was by and large female. In Eugene Onegin
The readership of literature in Pushkin’s age was by and large female. In Eugene Onegin
The readership of literature in Pushkin’s age was by and large female. In Eugene Onegin
Eugene Onegin
103
The Queen of Spades
104
105
The absence of a national literature was to haunt Russia’s young intelligentsia in th
The absence of a national literature was to haunt Russia’s young intelligentsia in th
The absence of a national literature was to haunt Russia’s young intelligentsia in th
106
dominated by the Church and the court. It was very difficult, if not impossible, for a writer
dominated by the Church and the court. It was very difficult, if not impossible, for a writer
dominated by the Church and the court. It was very difficult, if not impossible, for a writer
107
But the biggest impediment to the development of a national literature was the undeve
But the biggest impediment to the development of a national literature was the undeve
But the biggest impediment to the development of a national literature was the undeve
Such was the challenge that confronted Russia’s poets at the beginning of the nineteenth
Such was the challenge that confronted Russia’s poets at the beginning of the nineteenth
Such was the challenge that confronted Russia’s poets at the beginning of the nineteenth
108
But pantaloons, gilet, and frock -These words are hardly Russian stock.109
But pantaloons, gilet, and frock -These words are hardly Russian stock.109
But pantaloons, gilet, and frock -These words are hardly Russian stock.109
pantaloons, gilet,
frock
109
Hence Russian writers were obliged to adapt or borrow words from the French to express the s
Hence Russian writers were obliged to adapt or borrow words from the French to express the s
Hence Russian writers were obliged to adapt or borrow words from the French to express the s
the young Pushkin) aimed to ‘write as people speak’ - meaning how the people of taste and
the young Pushkin) aimed to ‘write as people speak’ - meaning how the people of taste and
the young Pushkin) aimed to ‘write as people speak’ - meaning how the people of taste and
110
War and Peace:
Anna Pavlovna had had a cough for some days. She was, as she said, suffering from la grippe;
Anna Pavlovna had had a cough for some days. She was, as she said, suffering from la grippe;
Anna Pavlovna had had a cough for some days. She was, as she said, suffering from la grippe;
la grippe; grippe
the elite
111
Yet this salon style was a necessary stage in the evolution of the literary language. Un
Yet this salon style was a necessary stage in the evolution of the literary language. Un
Yet this salon style was a necessary stage in the evolution of the literary language. Un
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