Natasha's Dance (198 page)
This re-engagement with the classical tradition was an obvious reaction by the emigres
With the death of Diaghilev, in 1929, the Ballets Russes split up. The impresario had alwa
With the death of Diaghilev, in 1929, the Ballets Russes split up. The impresario had alwa
With the death of Diaghilev, in 1929, the Ballets Russes split up. The impresario had alwa
Paris was an outlet to the West, a door through which exiled Russians reached a new homela
Paris was an outlet to the West, a door through which exiled Russians reached a new homela
Paris was an outlet to the West, a door through which exiled Russians reached a new homela
84
The composer Nicolas Nabokov (a cousin of the writer) recalls a
The composer Nicolas Nabokov (a cousin of the writer) recalls a
The composer Nicolas Nabokov (a cousin of the writer) recalls a
revealing incident. Shortly after his arrival in America, Stravinsky became worried by t
revealing incident. Shortly after his arrival in America, Stravinsky became worried by t
revealing incident. Shortly after his arrival in America, Stravinsky became worried by t
85
After teaching for a year at Harvard University, he found his refuge in Los Angeles, whe
After teaching for a year at Harvard University, he found his refuge in Los Angeles, whe
After teaching for a year at Harvard University, he found his refuge in Los Angeles, whe
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This sense of wanting to be rid of Russia - of wanting to break free to a new identity - was e
This sense of wanting to be rid of Russia - of wanting to break free to a new identity - was e
This sense of wanting to be rid of Russia - of wanting to break free to a new identity - was e
Will you leave me alone? I implore you! Dusk is ghastly. Life’s noises subside. I am helple
Will you leave me alone? I implore you! Dusk is ghastly. Life’s noises subside. I am helple
Will you leave me alone? I implore you! Dusk is ghastly. Life’s noises subside. I am helple
He who freely abandons his country on the heights to bewail it is free. But now I am down in t
He who freely abandons his country on the heights to bewail it is free. But now I am down in t
He who freely abandons his country on the heights to bewail it is free. But now I am down in t
I’m prepared to lie hidden forever and to live without a name. I’m prepared, lest we only
I’m prepared to lie hidden forever and to live without a name. I’m prepared, lest we only
I’m prepared to lie hidden forever and to live without a name. I’m prepared, lest we only
to be drained of my blood, to be crippled, to have done with the books I most love, for the f
to be drained of my blood, to be crippled, to have done with the books I most love, for the f
to be drained of my blood, to be crippled, to have done with the books I most love, for the f
But for that, through the tears, oh, Russia, through the grass of two far-parted tombs, throug
But for that, through the tears, oh, Russia, through the grass of two far-parted tombs, throug
But for that, through the tears, oh, Russia, through the grass of two far-parted tombs, throug
with your blind eyes, your dear eyes, cease looking
with your blind eyes, your dear eyes, cease looking
with your blind eyes, your dear eyes, cease looking
at me, oh, pity my soul,
at me, oh, pity my soul,
at me, oh, pity my soul,
do not rummage around in the coalpit,
do not rummage around in the coalpit,
do not rummage around in the coalpit,
do not grope for my life in this hole
do not grope for my life in this hole
do not grope for my life in this hole
because years have gone by and centuries, and for sufferings, sorrow, and shame, too late
because years have gone by and centuries, and for sufferings, sorrow, and shame, too late
because years have gone by and centuries, and for sufferings, sorrow, and shame, too late
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Stravinsky’s exodus to America followed a similar emotional path. He wanted to forget abo
Stravinsky’s exodus to America followed a similar emotional path. He wanted to forget abo
Stravinsky’s exodus to America followed a similar emotional path. He wanted to forget abo
The Firebird
The Rite of Spring).
88
Stravinsky mixed in the fashionable circles of Cocteau and Proust, Poulenc and Ravel, Pic
Stravinsky mixed in the fashionable circles of Cocteau and Proust, Poulenc and Ravel, Pic
Stravinsky mixed in the fashionable circles of Cocteau and Proust, Poulenc and Ravel, Pic
homme dur et monocle,
Stravinsky made a very public show of distancing himself from the peasant Russia that had ins
Stravinsky made a very public show of distancing himself from the peasant Russia that had ins
Stravinsky made a very public show of distancing himself from the peasant Russia that had ins
The Rite of Spring
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The Peasant Wedding -
Chronique de ma vie
90
balalaika
The music of Stravinsky’s neoclassical period was an expression of his ‘cosmopolitan’
The music of Stravinsky’s neoclassical period was an expression of his ‘cosmopolitan’
The music of Stravinsky’s neoclassical period was an expression of his ‘cosmopolitan’
Dumbarton Oaks
Oedipus Rex
thoroughness of the composer’s break with his native land. ‘For
thoroughness of the composer’s break with his native land. ‘For
thoroughness of the composer’s break with his native land. ‘For
Stravinsky, Russia is a language which he uses with superb, gourmandlike dexterity; it is
Stravinsky, Russia is a language which he uses with superb, gourmandlike dexterity; it is
Stravinsky, Russia is a language which he uses with superb, gourmandlike dexterity; it is
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92
In 1934 the composer became a citizen of France - a decision he explained by claiming h
In 1934 the composer became a citizen of France - a decision he explained by claiming h
In 1934 the composer became a citizen of France - a decision he explained by claiming h
93
94
95
The Fairy’s Kiss
The Rite of Spring.
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The Peasant Wedding
Throughout his life in exile Stravinsky remained emotionally attached to the rituals and
Throughout his life in exile Stravinsky remained emotionally attached to the rituals and
Throughout his life in exile Stravinsky remained emotionally attached to the rituals and
in France he became attracted intellectually to the Catholic tradition, which he cel
in France he became attracted intellectually to the Catholic tradition, which he cel
in France he became attracted intellectually to the Catholic tradition, which he cel
Symphony of Psalms
Symphony of Psalms,
These canons are as true for the composition of an orchestra as they are for the life of an
These canons are as true for the composition of an orchestra as they are for the life of an
These canons are as true for the composition of an orchestra as they are for the life of an
97
Stravinsky became a regular attender at services in the Russian church in the Rue Daru. H
Stravinsky became a regular attender at services in the Russian church in the Rue Daru. H
Stravinsky became a regular attender at services in the Russian church in the Rue Daru. H
98
This desire to return to the religion of his birth was connected to a profound love of Ru
This desire to return to the religion of his birth was connected to a profound love of Ru
This desire to return to the religion of his birth was connected to a profound love of Ru
* Before switching to Latin he had intended to set the Symphony of Psalms in Slavonic,
* Before switching to Latin he had intended to set the Symphony of Psalms in Slavonic,
* Before switching to Latin he had intended to set the Symphony of Psalms in Slavonic,
Symphony of Psalms
too.
too.
too.
The living room was filled with Russian books and ornaments, pictures and icons. The Stra
The living room was filled with Russian books and ornaments, pictures and icons. The Stra
The living room was filled with Russian books and ornaments, pictures and icons. The Stra
babushka.100
100
Chagall was another Artist of the World who concealed a Russian heart. Like Stravinsky, he
Chagall was another Artist of the World who concealed a Russian heart. Like Stravinsky, he
Chagall was another Artist of the World who concealed a Russian heart. Like Stravinsky, he
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102
None the less, the unanswered question of his nationality was central to the painter’s li
None the less, the unanswered question of his nationality was central to the painter’s li
None the less, the unanswered question of his nationality was central to the painter’s li
103
wrote a moving lamentation ‘To My Native Town, Vitebsk’ that was published as a letter in
wrote a moving lamentation ‘To My Native Town, Vitebsk’ that was published as a letter in
wrote a moving lamentation ‘To My Native Town, Vitebsk’ that was published as a letter in
The New York Times.
It is a long time since I last saw you, and found myself among your fenced streets. You didn’t
It is a long time since I last saw you, and found myself among your fenced streets. You didn’t
It is a long time since I last saw you, and found myself among your fenced streets. You didn’t
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Vitebsk was the world Chagall idealized. It was not so much a place as a mythical ideal, the a
Vitebsk was the world Chagall idealized. It was not so much a place as a mythical ideal, the a
Vitebsk was the world Chagall idealized. It was not so much a place as a mythical ideal, the a
Fiddler on the Roof’.105
105
Jews in Israel could not understand how Chagall could be so nostalgic about life in Russ
Jews in Israel could not understand how Chagall could be so nostalgic about life in Russ
Jews in Israel could not understand how Chagall could be so nostalgic about life in Russ
106
5
5
5
5
5
When Tsvetaeva moved to Paris in 1925 it had been in the hope that she would find a broader
When Tsvetaeva moved to Paris in 1925 it had been in the hope that she would find a broader
When Tsvetaeva moved to Paris in 1925 it had been in the hope that she would find a broader
107
Efron began to drift away from her - no doubt losing patience with her constant love affai
Efron began to drift away from her - no doubt losing patience with her constant love affai
Efron began to drift away from her - no doubt losing patience with her constant love affai
Efron’s politics placed enormous strain on his relationship with Tsvetaeva. She unders
Efron’s politics placed enormous strain on his relationship with Tsvetaeva. She unders
Efron’s politics placed enormous strain on his relationship with Tsvetaeva. She unders
husband of naivety: he closed his eyes to what he did not want to see. They argued constantly -
husband of naivety: he closed his eyes to what he did not want to see. They argued constantly -
husband of naivety: he closed his eyes to what he did not want to see. They argued constantly -
108
Efron’s activities made Tsvetaeva’s own position in emigre society untenable. It was
Efron’s activities made Tsvetaeva’s own position in emigre society untenable. It was
Efron’s activities made Tsvetaeva’s own position in emigre society untenable. It was
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110
After Russia,
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Just say: enough of torment - take A garden - lonesome like myself. (But do not stand near
Just say: enough of torment - take A garden - lonesome like myself. (But do not stand near
Just say: enough of torment - take A garden - lonesome like myself. (But do not stand near
112
’Everything is forcing me towards Russia’, she wrote to Anna Teskova in 1931. ‘Here I am un
’Everything is forcing me towards Russia’, she wrote to Anna Teskova in 1931. ‘Here I am un
’Everything is forcing me towards Russia’, she wrote to Anna Teskova in 1931. ‘Here I am un
113
once again, and that she could find a new circle of writer friends who would ‘look on me as o
once again, and that she could find a new circle of writer friends who would ‘look on me as o
once again, and that she could find a new circle of writer friends who would ‘look on me as o
114
115
In 1937 Efron was exposed as a Soviet agent and implicated in the assassination of a So
In 1937 Efron was exposed as a Soviet agent and implicated in the assassination of a So
In 1937 Efron was exposed as a Soviet agent and implicated in the assassination of a So
116
117
Pasternak had warned Tsvetaeva: ‘Don’t come back to Russia - it’s cold, there is a constant d
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