Natasha's Dance (192 page)
film opens with an overture whose stormy leitmotif is clearly borrowed from Wagner’s Die W
Die Walkure.
155
For Eisenstein these films represented a volte-face in artistic principles: the avant-ga
For Eisenstein these films represented a volte-face in artistic principles: the avant-ga
For Eisenstein these films represented a volte-face in artistic principles: the avant-ga
Alexander Nevsky,
156
Alexander Nevsky.
Stalin saw Ivan the Terrible as a medieval prototype of his own statesmanship. In 1941, as
Stalin saw Ivan the Terrible as a medieval prototype of his own statesmanship. In 1941, as
Stalin saw Ivan the Terrible as a medieval prototype of his own statesmanship. In 1941, as
oprichnina,
157
Ivan the Terrible
of the film to emerge in his imagination was the confession scene (planned for the third a
of the film to emerge in his imagination was the confession scene (planned for the third a
of the film to emerge in his imagination was the confession scene (planned for the third a
158
From the start, then, Ivan was conceived as a tragedy, a Soviet version of Boris Godunov w
From the start, then, Ivan was conceived as a tragedy, a Soviet version of Boris Godunov w
From the start, then, Ivan was conceived as a tragedy, a Soviet version of Boris Godunov w
Ivan
Boris Godunov
159
boyars;
boyars’
160
When Stalin saw the film he reacted violently. ‘This is not a film -it is some kind of night
When Stalin saw the film he reacted violently. ‘This is not a film -it is some kind of night
When Stalin saw the film he reacted violently. ‘This is not a film -it is some kind of night
161
you have to show why he had to be cruel. One of Ivan the Terrible’s mistakes was to stop short
you have to show why he had to be cruel. One of Ivan the Terrible’s mistakes was to stop short
you have to show why he had to be cruel. One of Ivan the Terrible’s mistakes was to stop short
162
Part Two of Ivan was banned by Stalin, but Eisenstein was permitted to resume production
Part Two of Ivan was banned by Stalin, but Eisenstein was permitted to resume production
Part Two of Ivan was banned by Stalin, but Eisenstein was permitted to resume production
Ivan
163
Tsar Ivan bangs his forehead against the flagstones in a rapid sequence of genuflectio
Tsar Ivan bangs his forehead against the flagstones in a rapid sequence of genuflectio
Tsar Ivan bangs his forehead against the flagstones in a rapid sequence of genuflectio
164
When they shot the scene the actor Mikhail Kuznetsov asked Eisenstein what was going on. ‘
When they shot the scene the actor Mikhail Kuznetsov asked Eisenstein what was going on. ‘
When they shot the scene the actor Mikhail Kuznetsov asked Eisenstein what was going on. ‘
boyars
is
165
Eisenstein took inspiration from Pushkin, whose own great drama Boris Godunov had serve
Eisenstein took inspiration from Pushkin, whose own great drama Boris Godunov had serve
Eisenstein took inspiration from Pushkin, whose own great drama Boris Godunov had serve
Boris Godunov
Boris Godunov:
’Lord, can you really see it? I’m so happy, so happy! Of course it is Boris Godunov: “Five y
’Lord, can you really see it? I’m so happy, so happy! Of course it is Boris Godunov: “Five y
’Lord, can you really see it? I’m so happy, so happy! Of course it is Boris Godunov: “Five y
166
Eisenstein did not have enough strength to complete his film. The heart attack had crippled h
Eisenstein did not have enough strength to complete his film. The heart attack had crippled h
Eisenstein did not have enough strength to complete his film. The heart attack had crippled h
6
6
6
6
6
The Leningrad to which Akhmatova returned in 1944 was a shadow of its former self. For her
The Leningrad to which Akhmatova returned in 1944 was a shadow of its former self. For her
The Leningrad to which Akhmatova returned in 1944 was a shadow of its former self. For her
167
168
During that same month Akhmatova received an English visitor. In
During that same month Akhmatova received an English visitor. In
During that same month Akhmatova received an English visitor. In
1945 Isaiah Berlin had just arrived as First Secretary of the British Embassy in Moscow.
1945 Isaiah Berlin had just arrived as First Secretary of the British Embassy in Moscow.
1945 Isaiah Berlin had just arrived as First Secretary of the British Embassy in Moscow.
169
It was very barely furnished - virtually everything in it had, I gathered, been taken awa
It was very barely furnished - virtually everything in it had, I gathered, been taken awa
It was very barely furnished - virtually everything in it had, I gathered, been taken awa
170
After conversing for a while, Berlin suddenly heard someone shouting his name outside. I
After conversing for a while, Berlin suddenly heard someone shouting his name outside. I
After conversing for a while, Berlin suddenly heard someone shouting his name outside. I
some of whom he had since met as emigres abroad. In her eyes, Berlin was a messenger betwee
some of whom he had since met as emigres abroad. In her eyes, Berlin was a messenger betwee
some of whom he had since met as emigres abroad. In her eyes, Berlin was a messenger betwee
Cinque,
Sounds die away in the ether,
Sounds die away in the ether,
Sounds die away in the ether,
And darkness overtakes the dusk.
And darkness overtakes the dusk.
And darkness overtakes the dusk.
In a world become mute for all time,
In a world become mute for all time,
In a world become mute for all time,
There are only two voices: yours and mine.
There are only two voices: yours and mine.
There are only two voices: yours and mine.
And to the almost bell-like sound
And to the almost bell-like sound
And to the almost bell-like sound
Of the wind from invisible Lake Ladoga,
Of the wind from invisible Lake Ladoga,
Of the wind from invisible Lake Ladoga,
That late-night dialogue turned into
That late-night dialogue turned into
That late-night dialogue turned into
The delicate shimmer of interlaced rainbows.171
The delicate shimmer of interlaced rainbows.171
The delicate shimmer of interlaced rainbows.171
171
’So our nun now receives visits from foreign spies,’ Stalin remarked, or so it is alleged
’So our nun now receives visits from foreign spies,’ Stalin remarked, or so it is alleged
’So our nun now receives visits from foreign spies,’ Stalin remarked, or so it is alleged
172
173
Akhmatova was deprived of her ration card and forced to live off
Akhmatova was deprived of her ration card and forced to live off
Akhmatova was deprived of her ration card and forced to live off
food donated by her friends. Lev was barred from taking his degree at the university. In 194
food donated by her friends. Lev was barred from taking his degree at the university. In 194
food donated by her friends. Lev was barred from taking his degree at the university. In 194
174
175
176
Berlin always blamed himself for the suffering he had caused.177 But his visit to the Fount
Berlin always blamed himself for the suffering he had caused.177 But his visit to the Fount
Berlin always blamed himself for the suffering he had caused.177 But his visit to the Fount
177
178
* She later requested that it be omitted from her collected works.
* She later requested that it be omitted from her collected works.
* She later requested that it be omitted from her collected works.
Attacked by the same decree as Akhmatova was Mikhail Zoshch-enko. Like Akhmatova, he was
Attacked by the same decree as Akhmatova was Mikhail Zoshch-enko. Like Akhmatova, he was
Attacked by the same decree as Akhmatova was Mikhail Zoshch-enko. Like Akhmatova, he was
Zvezda
179
The attack against Akhmatova and Zoshchenko was soon followed by a series of decrees i
The attack against Akhmatova and Zoshchenko was soon followed by a series of decrees i
The attack against Akhmatova and Zoshchenko was soon followed by a series of decrees i
Zhdanovsh-china
the Party’s ideology on all the arts and sciences. Zhdanov launched a
the Party’s ideology on all the arts and sciences. Zhdanov launched a
the Party’s ideology on all the arts and sciences. Zhdanov launched a
series of violent attacks against ‘decadent Western influences’. He led a new campaign ag
series of violent attacks against ‘decadent Western influences’. He led a new campaign ag
series of violent attacks against ‘decadent Western influences’. He led a new campaign ag
180
Immense national pride in the cultural and political superiority of Soviet Russia went
Immense national pride in the cultural and political superiority of Soviet Russia went
Immense national pride in the cultural and political superiority of Soviet Russia went
Pravda,
181
This triumphalism also found expression in the architectural style which dominated pl
This triumphalism also found expression in the architectural style which dominated pl
This triumphalism also found expression in the architectural style which dominated pl
* Andrei Sakharov records a joke in scientific circles at that time. A Soviet delegati
* Andrei Sakharov records a joke in scientific circles at that time. A Soviet delegati
* Andrei Sakharov records a joke in scientific circles at that time. A Soviet delegati
Memoirs
the Soviet achievement. ‘Stalin’s cathedrals’, the seven elephantine wedding-cake-lik
the Soviet achievement. ‘Stalin’s cathedrals’, the seven elephantine wedding-cake-lik
the Soviet achievement. ‘Stalin’s cathedrals’, the seven elephantine wedding-cake-lik
182
Soviet pride in Russian culture knew no bounds in the post-war period. The Russian ballet
Soviet pride in Russian culture knew no bounds in the post-war period. The Russian ballet
Soviet pride in Russian culture knew no bounds in the post-war period. The Russian ballet
183
184
The long-term plan of Soviet policy was to channel these ‘folk cultures’ into higher forms
The long-term plan of Soviet policy was to channel these ‘folk cultures’ into higher forms
The long-term plan of Soviet policy was to channel these ‘folk cultures’ into higher forms
Caucasion republics to set up ‘national operas’ and symphonic
Caucasion republics to set up ‘national operas’ and symphonic
Caucasion republics to set up ‘national operas’ and symphonic
traditions in places where there had been none before. The European opera house and conc
traditions in places where there had been none before. The European opera house and conc
traditions in places where there had been none before. The European opera house and conc
The Russian composer Reinhold Gliere (the composition teacher of the young Prokofie
The Russian composer Reinhold Gliere (the composition teacher of the young Prokofie
The Russian composer Reinhold Gliere (the composition teacher of the young Prokofie
Gulsara
185
As the Cold War became more intense, and Stalin’s own paranoic fear of ‘internal enemie
As the Cold War became more intense, and Stalin’s own paranoic fear of ‘internal enemie
As the Cold War became more intense, and Stalin’s own paranoic fear of ‘internal enemie
the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee (JAFC), was killed by state security troops. The assass
the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee (JAFC), was killed by state security troops. The assass
the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee (JAFC), was killed by state security troops. The assass
186
The murder of Mikhoels was linked to the arrest of several dozen leading Jews accused of
The murder of Mikhoels was linked to the arrest of several dozen leading Jews accused of
The murder of Mikhoels was linked to the arrest of several dozen leading Jews accused of
187
188
In the cultural sphere the ‘ugly distortions’ of the avant-garde were put down to the influ
In the cultural sphere the ‘ugly distortions’ of the avant-garde were put down to the influ
In the cultural sphere the ‘ugly distortions’ of the avant-garde were put down to the influ
* Stalin’s father had been murdered by an axe wrapped in a quilted jacket; and his likely
* Stalin’s father had been murdered by an axe wrapped in a quilted jacket; and his likely
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