Natasha's Dance (153 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

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3. The Sheremetev theatre at Ostankino. View from the stage. The parterre is covered b
The Sheremetev theatre at Ostankino. View from the stage. The parterre is covered by t
changes of French grand opera.50 Nikolai Petrovich, who took the Sheremetev opera to its h
changes of French grand opera.50 Nikolai Petrovich, who took the Sheremetev opera to its h
changes of French grand opera.50 Nikolai Petrovich, who took the Sheremetev opera to its h
50
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The civilization of the aristocracy was based upon the craftsmanship of millions of serf
The civilization of the aristocracy was based upon the craftsmanship of millions of serf
The civilization of the aristocracy was based upon the craftsmanship of millions of serf
finer than a human hair, the miniature boxes with their scenes from fairy tales set in pre
finer than a human hair, the miniature boxes with their scenes from fairy tales set in pre
finer than a human hair, the miniature boxes with their scenes from fairy tales set in pre
Serfs were essential to the Sheremetev palaces and their arts. From the 200,000 census se
Serfs were essential to the Sheremetev palaces and their arts. From the 200,000 census se
Serfs were essential to the Sheremetev palaces and their arts. From the 200,000 census se
51
The Argunov family had a vital role in the development of the Russian arts. All the Argu
The Argunov family had a vital role in the development of the Russian arts. All the Argu
The Argunov family had a vital role in the development of the Russian arts. All the Argu
52
The position of the creative serf was complicated and ambiguous. There were artists w
The position of the creative serf was complicated and ambiguous. There were artists w
The position of the creative serf was complicated and ambiguous. There were artists w
of all artistic matters at the Fountain House, received a mere 40 roubles a year.53 Ser
of all artistic matters at the Fountain House, received a mere 40 roubles a year.53 Ser
of all artistic matters at the Fountain House, received a mere 40 roubles a year.53 Ser
53
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One of Argunov’s most memorable portraits represents another former Sheremetev serf: C
One of Argunov’s most memorable portraits represents another former Sheremetev serf: C
One of Argunov’s most memorable portraits represents another former Sheremetev serf: C
Praskovya was born to a family of serfs on the Sheremetev estate at Yukhotsk in Yaroslav pr
Praskovya was born to a family of serfs on the Sheremetev estate at Yukhotsk in Yaroslav pr
Praskovya was born to a family of serfs on the Sheremetev estate at Yukhotsk in Yaroslav pr
tailors, while the third became a musician in the Sheremetev orchestra. Praskovya was a
tailors, while the third became a musician in the Sheremetev orchestra. Praskovya was a
tailors, while the third became a musician in the Sheremetev orchestra. Praskovya was a
L
Amitie a l’epreuve
La Colonie
55
The story of Praskovya’s romance with the count could have come straight out of a comic op
The story of Praskovya’s romance with the count could have come straight out of a comic op
The story of Praskovya’s romance with the count could have come straight out of a comic op
Anyuta,
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but I examined my heart to know whether it was seeking pleasures of the flesh or other plea
but I examined my heart to know whether it was seeking pleasures of the flesh or other plea
but I examined my heart to know whether it was seeking pleasures of the flesh or other plea
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Not that it started out that way. The young count was fond of hunting and of chasing girls; and
Not that it started out that way. The young count was fond of hunting and of chasing girls; and
Not that it started out that way. The young count was fond of hunting and of chasing girls; and
58
It is not exactly clear when the count and Praskovya became de facto ‘man and wife’. To beg
It is not exactly clear when the count and Praskovya became de facto ‘man and wife’. To beg
It is not exactly clear when the count and Praskovya became de facto ‘man and wife’. To beg
de facto
5
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Serf harems were extremely fashionable in the eighteenth and the early nineteenth centu
Serf harems were extremely fashionable in the eighteenth and the early nineteenth centu
Serf harems were extremely fashionable in the eighteenth and the early nineteenth centu
Family Chronicle (
among his female serfs: anyone who tried to oppose it, including his own wife, was physic
among his female serfs: anyone who tried to oppose it, including his own wife, was physic
among his female serfs: anyone who tried to oppose it, including his own wife, was physic
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62
Fountain of Bakhchisarai.
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By the beginning of the 1790s Praskovya had become Sheremetev’s unofficial wife. It was
By the beginning of the 1790s Praskovya had become Sheremetev’s unofficial wife. It was
By the beginning of the 1790s Praskovya had become Sheremetev’s unofficial wife. It was
not allow him to do so. Marriages to serfs were extremely rare in the status-obsessed cult
not allow him to do so. Marriages to serfs were extremely rare in the status-obsessed cult
not allow him to do so. Marriages to serfs were extremely rare in the status-obsessed cult
The count’s dilemma was one faced by noblemen in numerous comic operas. Nikolai Petro
The count’s dilemma was one faced by noblemen in numerous comic operas. Nikolai Petro
The count’s dilemma was one faced by noblemen in numerous comic operas. Nikolai Petro
Nanine
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Praskovya’s secret relationship with the count placed her in an almost impossible posit
Praskovya’s secret relationship with the count placed her in an almost impossible posit
Praskovya’s secret relationship with the count placed her in an almost impossible posit
dacha,
the gossip of the serfs from spreading to the public in Moscow: visitors would come to snoo
the gossip of the serfs from spreading to the public in Moscow: visitors would come to snoo
the gossip of the serfs from spreading to the public in Moscow: visitors would come to snoo
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Yet even at Ostankino Prasvovya’s situation remained extremely difficult. Resented b
Yet even at Ostankino Prasvovya’s situation remained extremely difficult. Resented b
Yet even at Ostankino Prasvovya’s situation remained extremely difficult. Resented b
Les Manages Samnites,
66
Shortly before Les Manages Nikolai Petrovich had been summoned to the court by the Empe
Shortly before Les Manages Nikolai Petrovich had been summoned to the court by the Empe
Shortly before Les Manages Nikolai Petrovich had been summoned to the court by the Empe
Les Manages
Fountain House. It was at this stage that the first signs of Praskovya’s illness became clea
Fountain House. It was at this stage that the first signs of Praskovya’s illness became clea
Fountain House. It was at this stage that the first signs of Praskovya’s illness became clea
Praskovya’s confinement to the Fountain House was not just the result of her illness. Rumo
Praskovya’s confinement to the Fountain House was not just the result of her illness. Rumo
Praskovya’s confinement to the Fountain House was not just the result of her illness. Rumo
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68
The moral support of the Emperor must have been a factor in the count’s decision to flou
The moral support of the Emperor must have been a factor in the count’s decision to flou
The moral support of the Emperor must have been a factor in the count’s decision to flou
legal wife. Nikolai Petrovich had always believed that the Sheremetev family was diffe
legal wife. Nikolai Petrovich had always believed that the Sheremetev family was diffe
legal wife. Nikolai Petrovich had always believed that the Sheremetev family was diffe
69
70
One year later Praskovya gave birth to a son, Dmitry, who was christened, like his father,
One year later Praskovya gave birth to a son, Dmitry, who was christened, like his father,
One year later Praskovya gave birth to a son, Dmitry, who was christened, like his father,
The easy pregnancy of your mother heralded a happy resolution; she brought you into the w
The easy pregnancy of your mother heralded a happy resolution; she brought you into the w
The easy pregnancy of your mother heralded a happy resolution; she brought you into the w
71
At this moment, the most desperate time in his life, the count was abandoned by the whole
At this moment, the most desperate time in his life, the count was abandoned by the whole
At this moment, the most desperate time in his life, the count was abandoned by the whole
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the funeral and accompanied the coffin from the Fountain House to the Alexander Nevsky
the funeral and accompanied the coffin from the Fountain House to the Alexander Nevsky
the funeral and accompanied the coffin from the Fountain House to the Alexander Nevsky
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I thought I had friends who loved me, respected me and shared my pleasures, but when my wif
I thought I had friends who loved me, respected me and shared my pleasures, but when my wif
I thought I had friends who loved me, respected me and shared my pleasures, but when my wif
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Lost in grief, the count resigned from the court, turned his back on society and, retreati
Lost in grief, the count resigned from the court, turned his back on society and, retreati
Lost in grief, the count resigned from the court, turned his back on society and, retreati
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76
For years the grief-stricken count would leave the Fountain House and walk incognito th
For years the grief-stricken count would leave the Fountain House and walk incognito th
For years the grief-stricken count would leave the Fountain House and walk incognito th
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was a form of vanity, like my desire to charm and surprise people’s feelings with things th
was a form of vanity, like my desire to charm and surprise people’s feelings with things th
was a form of vanity, like my desire to charm and surprise people’s feelings with things th
78
On Praskovya’s death the count wrote to the new Emperor, Alexander I, to inform him of his
On Praskovya’s death the count wrote to the new Emperor, Alexander I, to inform him of his
On Praskovya’s death the count wrote to the new Emperor, Alexander I, to inform him of his
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Anyuta
Praskovya was blessed with a rare intelligence and strength of character. She was the fines
Praskovya was blessed with a rare intelligence and strength of character. She was the fines
Praskovya was blessed with a rare intelligence and strength of character. She was the fines
found among the papers of the recently deceased Tatyana Shlykova, the opera singer (Shere
found among the papers of the recently deceased Tatyana Shlykova, the opera singer (Shere
found among the papers of the recently deceased Tatyana Shlykova, the opera singer (Shere
… O merciful Lord, the source of all goodness and endless charity, I confess to you my sins
… O merciful Lord, the source of all goodness and endless charity, I confess to you my sins
… O merciful Lord, the source of all goodness and endless charity, I confess to you my sins
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The musical life of eighteenth-century Russia was dominated by the court and by small pri
The musical life of eighteenth-century Russia was dominated by the court and by small pri
The musical life of eighteenth-century Russia was dominated by the court and by small pri
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There were serf theatres on 173 estates, and serf orchestras on 300 estates, between the
There were serf theatres on 173 estates, and serf orchestras on 300 estates, between the
There were serf theatres on 173 estates, and serf orchestras on 300 estates, between the
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In 1762, the Empress liberated the nobility from compulsory service to the state. She wan
In 1762, the Empress liberated the nobility from compulsory service to the state. She wan
In 1762, the Empress liberated the nobility from compulsory service to the state. She wan
The Sheremetev serf troupe was the most important theatre of its kind, and it played a maj
The Sheremetev serf troupe was the most important theatre of its kind, and it played a maj
The Sheremetev serf troupe was the most important theatre of its kind, and it played a maj
85
and 1787. He left its direction to his son, Count Nikolai Petrovich, who was well acquain
and 1787. He left its direction to his son, Count Nikolai Petrovich, who was well acquain

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