Natasha's Dance (199 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

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Pasternak had warned Tsvetaeva: ‘Don’t come back to Russia - it’s cold, there is a constant d
Pasternak had warned Tsvetaeva: ‘Don’t come back to Russia - it’s cold, there is a constant d
That the Russian draught should blow away my soul!118
That the Russian draught should blow away my soul!118
That the Russian draught should blow away my soul!118
118
But she was like her husband: she did not hear what she did not want to hear.
But she was like her husband: she did not hear what she did not want to hear.
But she was like her husband: she did not hear what she did not want to hear.
Many of the exiles who returned to Stalin’s Russia did so in the knowledge, or with the intu
Many of the exiles who returned to Stalin’s Russia did so in the knowledge, or with the intu
Many of the exiles who returned to Stalin’s Russia did so in the knowledge, or with the intu
for a social context in which they could work, that they were prepared to close their eyes
for a social context in which they could work, that they were prepared to close their eyes
for a social context in which they could work, that they were prepared to close their eyes
Maxim Gorky was the first major cultural figure to discover the perils of return. The wri
Maxim Gorky was the first major cultural figure to discover the perils of return. The wri
Maxim Gorky was the first major cultural figure to discover the perils of return. The wri
Mother,
119
On Lenin’s death in 1924, however, Gorky revised his attitude. He was overwhelmed with re
On Lenin’s death in 1924, however, Gorky revised his attitude. He was overwhelmed with re
On Lenin’s death in 1924, however, Gorky revised his attitude. He was overwhelmed with re
120
Memories of Lenin
The Artamonov Business
The Life of Klim Samgin
of his opposition to the Bolsheviks - about Europe as a historic force of moral progres
of his opposition to the Bolsheviks - about Europe as a historic force of moral progres
of his opposition to the Bolsheviks - about Europe as a historic force of moral progres
dachas;
121
The Soviet regime to which Gorky had returned was deeply split between the Stalinists and
The Soviet regime to which Gorky had returned was deeply split between the Stalinists and
The Soviet regime to which Gorky had returned was deeply split between the Stalinists and
122
The NKVD placed Gorky under close surveillance. There is evidence that Gorky was involve
The NKVD placed Gorky under close surveillance. There is evidence that Gorky was involve
The NKVD placed Gorky under close surveillance. There is evidence that Gorky was involve
on Stalin’s orders, in 1934. Gorky’s death in 1936 may also have been a consequence of the
on Stalin’s orders, in 1934. Gorky’s death in 1936 may also have been a consequence of the
on Stalin’s orders, in 1934. Gorky’s death in 1936 may also have been a consequence of the
123
124
Prokofiev was the other major figure to return to Stalin’s Russia -at the height of the Gre
Prokofiev was the other major figure to return to Stalin’s Russia -at the height of the Gre
Prokofiev was the other major figure to return to Stalin’s Russia -at the height of the Gre
Perhaps it was connected with his rise to fame as an infant prodigy in St Petersburg. The ch
Perhaps it was connected with his rise to fame as an infant prodigy in St Petersburg. The ch
Perhaps it was connected with his rise to fame as an infant prodigy in St Petersburg. The ch
chinking with a cold fury of the wonderful American orchestras that cared nothing for my mu
chinking with a cold fury of the wonderful American orchestras that cared nothing for my mu
chinking with a cold fury of the wonderful American orchestras that cared nothing for my mu
enfant-
had not matured to an understanding of new music. Should I have gone back home? But how? R
had not matured to an understanding of new music. Should I have gone back home? But how? R
had not matured to an understanding of new music. Should I have gone back home? But how? R
home
home
125
According to Berberova, Prokofiev had been heard to say on more than one occasion: ‘The
According to Berberova, Prokofiev had been heard to say on more than one occasion: ‘The
According to Berberova, Prokofiev had been heard to say on more than one occasion: ‘The
126
In 1920 Prokofiev left New York and settled in Paris. But with Stravinsky already ensconce
In 1920 Prokofiev left New York and settled in Paris. But with Stravinsky already ensconce
In 1920 Prokofiev left New York and settled in Paris. But with Stravinsky already ensconce
War and Peace,
Gambler
Fiery Angel
127
The Buffoon
The Steel Step
The Prodigal Son
Prokofiev became a lonely figure in Paris. He had a small circle of Russian friends which
Prokofiev became a lonely figure in Paris. He had a small circle of Russian friends which
Prokofiev became a lonely figure in Paris. He had a small circle of Russian friends which
The Fiery Angel
Isolated from the emigre community in Paris, Prokofiev began to develop contacts with the
Isolated from the emigre community in Paris, Prokofiev began to develop contacts with the
Isolated from the emigre community in Paris, Prokofiev began to develop contacts with the
128
Love for Three Oranges
129
because I am a Russian, and that is to say the least suited of men to be an exile, to remain
because I am a Russian, and that is to say the least suited of men to be an exile, to remain
because I am a Russian, and that is to say the least suited of men to be an exile, to remain
130
From 1932. Prokofiev began to spend half the year in Moscow; four years later he moved his
From 1932. Prokofiev began to spend half the year in Moscow; four years later he moved his
From 1932. Prokofiev began to spend half the year in Moscow; four years later he moved his
Lieutenant Kije
Romeo and Juliet
Still, in spite of all the accolades, Prokofiev’s working life at home became steadily
Still, in spite of all the accolades, Prokofiev’s working life at home became steadily
Still, in spite of all the accolades, Prokofiev’s working life at home became steadily
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,
Peter and the Wolf
Cantata for the Twentieth Anniversary of the October Revolution
Boris Godunov;
War and Peace
Prokofiev spent his last years in virtual seclusion. Like Shostakovich, he turned incre
Prokofiev spent his last years in virtual seclusion. Like Shostakovich, he turned incre
Prokofiev spent his last years in virtual seclusion. Like Shostakovich, he turned incre
131
Tsvetaeva returned to live with Efron and their son and daughter in a dacha near Moscow in
Tsvetaeva returned to live with Efron and their son and daughter in a dacha near Moscow in
Tsvetaeva returned to live with Efron and their son and daughter in a dacha near Moscow in
dacha
132
Two months after their return, Tsvetaeva’s daughter Alya was arrested and accused of spy
Two months after their return, Tsvetaeva’s daughter Alya was arrested and accused of spy
Two months after their return, Tsvetaeva’s daughter Alya was arrested and accused of spy
Shortly before she left France, Tsvetaeva had told a friend that, if she could not write in
Shortly before she left France, Tsvetaeva had told a friend that, if she could not write in
Shortly before she left France, Tsvetaeva had told a friend that, if she could not write in
* Alya served eight years in a labour camp. Efron was shot in 1941.
* Alya served eight years in a labour camp. Efron was shot in 1941.
* Alya served eight years in a labour camp. Efron was shot in 1941.
Tsvetaeva was increasingly fixated on the idea of her suicide. She had often used it as a thr
Tsvetaeva was increasingly fixated on the idea of her suicide. She had often used it as a thr
Tsvetaeva was increasingly fixated on the idea of her suicide. She had often used it as a thr
It’s time to take off the amber, It’s time to change the language, It’s time to extinguis
It’s time to take off the amber, It’s time to change the language, It’s time to extinguis
It’s time to take off the amber, It’s time to change the language, It’s time to extinguis
1
Her last poem, written in March 1941, was addressed to the young and handsome poet Arseny T
Her last poem, written in March 1941, was addressed to the young and handsome poet Arseny T
Her last poem, written in March 1941, was addressed to the young and handsome poet Arseny T
I am no one: not a brother, not a son, not a husband, Not a friend - and still I reproach you:
I am no one: not a brother, not a son, not a husband, Not a friend - and still I reproach you:
I am no one: not a brother, not a son, not a husband, Not a friend - and still I reproach you:
souls
134
Tsvetaeva’s son Mur was her last hope and emotional support. But the teenager was struggling
Tsvetaeva’s son Mur was her last hope and emotional support. But the teenager was struggling
Tsvetaeva’s son Mur was her last hope and emotional support. But the teenager was struggling
Murlyga! Forgive me, but to go on would be worse. I am gravely ill, this is not me anymore. I
Murlyga! Forgive me, but to go on would be worse. I am gravely ill, this is not me anymore. I
Murlyga! Forgive me, but to go on would be worse. I am gravely ill, this is not me anymore. I
135
Tsvetaeva was buried in an unmarked grave. Nobody attended her funeral, not even her son.
Tsvetaeva was buried in an unmarked grave. Nobody attended her funeral, not even her son.
Tsvetaeva was buried in an unmarked grave. Nobody attended her funeral, not even her son.
6
6
6
6
6
In 1962 Stravinsky accepted a Soviet invitation to visit the country of his birth. It was
In 1962 Stravinsky accepted a Soviet invitation to visit the country of his birth. It was
In 1962 Stravinsky accepted a Soviet invitation to visit the country of his birth. It was
136
137
He was particularly scathing about the Soviet musical academy, where the spirit of the R
He was particularly scathing about the Soviet musical academy, where the spirit of the R
He was particularly scathing about the Soviet musical academy, where the spirit of the R
The Rite of Spring
138
139
But after Stalin’s death the climate changed. The Khrushchev ‘thaw’ had brought an end to th
But after Stalin’s death the climate changed. The Khrushchev ‘thaw’ had brought an end to th
But after Stalin’s death the climate changed. The Khrushchev ‘thaw’ had brought an end to th
(Edison Denisov, Sofya Gubaidulina and Alfred Schnittke). A brilliant generation of S
(Edison Denisov, Sofya Gubaidulina and Alfred Schnittke). A brilliant generation of S
(Edison Denisov, Sofya Gubaidulina and Alfred Schnittke). A brilliant generation of S
Despite his own denials, Stravinsky had always regretted the circumstances of his exile fr
Despite his own denials, Stravinsky had always regretted the circumstances of his exile fr
Despite his own denials, Stravinsky had always regretted the circumstances of his exile fr
Mother.
140
141
On 21 September 1962, the Stravinskys landed in a Soviet plane at Sheremetevo. Straining
On 21 September 1962, the Stravinskys landed in a Soviet plane at Sheremetevo. Straining
On 21 September 1962, the Stravinskys landed in a Soviet plane at Sheremetevo. Straining
The Firebird
The Rite of Spring.
twig, a leaf, a blade of wheat, an acorn, some moss, and other souvenirs of the Russian ear
twig, a leaf, a blade of wheat, an acorn, some moss, and other souvenirs of the Russian ear
twig, a leaf, a blade of wheat, an acorn, some moss, and other souvenirs of the Russian ear
142
The trip released a huge outpouring of emotion in Stravinsky. In the fifteen years that R
The trip released a huge outpouring of emotion in Stravinsky. In the fifteen years that R
The trip released a huge outpouring of emotion in Stravinsky. In the fifteen years that R
143
144
145
146
The same was true of the musical tradition, as Robert Craft found out when he rehearsed t
The same was true of the musical tradition, as Robert Craft found out when he rehearsed t
The same was true of the musical tradition, as Robert Craft found out when he rehearsed t
The Rite of Spring.
The orchestral ensemble is good, quick to adopt my alien demands of phrasing and articul
The orchestral ensemble is good, quick to adopt my alien demands of phrasing and articul

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