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Alexander Siloti and Jean Roger-Ducasse: About the Production of the Mimodrama “Orpheus” in Petrograd

https://doi.org/10.25281/2072-3156-2021-18-2-186-194

Abstract

Based on archival data, memoirs and letters, the article describes the joint work of the pianist Alexander Ilyich Siloti (1863—1945) and the great creators of the Silver Age — choreographer Mikhail Fokin and artist Léon Bakst — on the production of the mimodrama “Orpheus” by the French composer Jean Jules Aimable Roger-Ducasse at the Mariinsky Theatre. The author notes the originality of this composition, new stage solutions, an innovative approach to the production that combines opera and ballet. There are described in detail the decorations and costumes made by Bakst for this production, which could be seen at the exhibition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the artist in 2016. The premiere was scheduled for the 1915/1916 season, but did not take place. The article explains what prevented the presentation. There are provided some fragments of the correspondence between Siloti and the participants of the production of “Orpheus”, and fragments of reviews for the concert performance of this composition. The article aims at showing new facets of Siloti’s activities, particularly in popularizing the music of French composers in the programs of the entreprise “Concerts of A. Siloti”, which was of great importance in the culture of Petersburg at the beginning of the 20th century. Siloti would often become the first performer of works by foreign authors, which were a “fresh breath” in the cultural and artistic atmosphere of the capital. He tried to enlighten and educate the audience with his concerts, to develop their desire to go to concerts and listen to music. The article gives a general assessment of the activities of A.I. Siloti — a propagandist, educator, pianist, conductor, public figure, a talented organizer of new forms of artistic life and promotion of the best achievements of musical classics and modern creative process.

About the Author

Svetlana V. Gorobets
Saint Petersburg State Institute of Culture
Russian Federation

2, Dvortsovaya Emb., St. Petersburg, 191186, Russia

ORCID 0000-0002-5028-2099; SPIN 7271-6118



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Review

For citations:


Gorobets S.V. Alexander Siloti and Jean Roger-Ducasse: About the Production of the Mimodrama “Orpheus” in Petrograd. Observatory of Culture. 2021;18(2):186-194. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25281/2072-3156-2021-18-2-186-194

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ISSN 2072-3156 (Print)
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