2. Theatre

Russia has always been famous for its great theatre traditions, and distinguished actors and actresses.

In 1898 Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko decided to found a new theatre in Russia. The first performance “Tsar Feodor Ioanovitch” by Alexey Tolstoy, where the unknown but promising actor Ivan Mokvin performed the part of tsar Feodor, the young actress Olga Knipper played the role of the Tsar’s wife Irina, and Stanislavsky played the role of Shuisky, made a great impression on the Moscow public, which liked the acting, the sets and authentic atmosphere of the performance. The name of the new unique theatre was the Moscow Art Theatre.

(1863-1938) Stanislavsky created the most complete drama theory. He had his own working methods and his achievements brought him general acclaim. His influence on the world theatre and his appeal doesn’t lessen with time. As an outstanding Russian actor, stage-director and theorist he looked for new ways of scenic expressiveness, he strove to sum up the experience of the best stage masters of the Russian and the world theatre.

Under Shchepkin’s and Chekhov’s influence Stanislavsky strove to create an authentic atmosphere in the theatre.

His system fought against overacting, cliches and mannerism. He developed a technique which helped actors to build the inner world of the person portrayed on the stage. Stanislavsky’s “art of adaptation” concerned everything from the actor’s make-up to the inner identification with the character.

The Stanislavsky System has played an outstanding role in the development of the 20^th century theatre/ With the System’s terminology – super-objective logic of actions, subtext, temporhythm, method of physical actions and so on – a common theatrical language has been created. All over the world actors, directors and teachers of acting follow his method.

Stanislavsky had many talented pupils, E.Vakhtangov was one of them and he left his own mark on all his creations. He was the leading actor and director of the Art Theatre Studio.

So on the one hand, the art of Realism has given the world such outstanding innovators and stage reformers as Stanislavsky and Vakhtangov, on the other – Meyerhold.

Vsevolod Meyerhold (1874-1940) was the famous innovator, whose productions around heated and contradictory discussions. He left the Moscow Art theatre to fight a revolution of his own. His ambition was to find sensational new stage laws. He never stopped experimenting. In contrast to Stanislavsky, who wanted the spectators to lose themselves in the atmosphere of the play, Meyerhold wanted the spectators to remember that they were in the theatre, to make them think. In fact, Meyerhold strove for the same purpose, as Stanislavsky-fighting against everything trivial.Vakhtangov appreciated Meyerhold’s imaginstion and sense of form, but on the other hand he thought that Meyerhold often acted purely from a desire to reject the old and used a form which had little connection with the essence of the play. Meyerhold used opendirectorial devices, demonstrative emphasis of his own point of view. He wanted to maintain a new theatre tradition. In collaboration with Mayakovsky Meyerhold cultivated the metaphor and strove to emphasize the social message.

Another theatre, which has added glory to the Russian theatre is Moscow Maly theatre, founded by M.S. Tczhepkin, the oldest Russian Drama theatre in Moscow. Famous plays by A.S. Griboedov and Gogol, Shakespeare and Shiller are staged there. Since 1853 the theatre had stayed plays by A. N. Ostrovsky 47 of his dramas and comedies were stayed in the Maly theatre. Such outstanding actors as P.Sadovsky, I.Samarin, M.Ermoleva, G. Fedotova, A. Lensky and other worked there. The chief directors of the theatre were A. Yuzhin (1923-1927), I. Sudakov (1937-43), P.Sadovsky (1944-47), K. Zubov, M. Tsaryov (1957-62), E. Simonov (1963-70).

The famous Theatre college in the name of M.S. Shchepkin was founded in 1938.

Today the Maly Theatre, with its leader and head director keeps glorious traditions of the theatre.

The theatre’s partiality to classics is proof that, to paraphrase the old maxim, the long-forgotten old is an in exhaustible source for refreshing the heart and the mind. Its performances are may be delightfully old-fashioned in a way that frequently turns out to be more to the point and more important than any newfangled tricks devoid of style and clarity. And it is style and clarity that allow both the actors and the public to relish the simple and timeless story of a person.

This is a classic, that has yet again confirmed its evergreen relevance.

A.Y.Tairov (1885-1950) founded the famous Chamber theatre in 1914 with A.Koonen and a group of young actors. The highlight of his creative career became “The Optimistic tragedy” by Vishnevsky (1933) with A. Koonen in the role of Komissar. Among the best performances there were “Madam Bovari” (1940) by Flober, and “An Old man” by Gorky (1946). Y.P. Lubimov is another famous director. Having staged a play “A nice person from Sezuan” by Brecht in 1963 with his students at the theatre College in the name of Shchukin, he decided to found the Moscow Drama and Comedy theatre on Taganka”, “Hamlet” (1972), “Mothev” (1969).

Taganka with its progressive ideas, its new style of acting and directing had on electrifying effect. Lubimov has always been full of ideas for stage reform. Lubimov’s in novations concerned everything – acting technique, the decor and a new attitude towards the audience. Unlike the traditional drama Taganka theatre makes the spectators active. He strives for staginess and breaks the theatrical illusion.

Songs are often used in order to break the continuity of action, moving sets, gestural acting and so on. All these innovations demanded that the audience should not remain indifferent. These innovations helped Lubimov to widen the expressive possibilities of the common conception of theatre. The actor often addressed the spectators directly. The actor demonstrated the role rather than identified himself with it. Lubimov gave his actors freedom of creative effort, of improvisation. He tried to certain artificiality of atmosphere in contrast to reality.

Russia has always had brilliant actors, and actresses, who have qualities that widen our vision, and add to our understanding of the world. These qualities are thorough knowledge of the play in which they are performing, artistic imagination, physical, intellectual and spiritual strength, a sense of display and an ability to identify with a role to take on the core of a character.

Smoktunovsky, Evstigneev, Leonov, Efremov, Tabakov and many others. They created many unforgettable characters. Russian actors were able to display the entire range of human passions and emotions, avoiding anything trivial that might have weakened the image.

TASK:

3. PAINTING

The best and the brightest period in the development of Russian art is closely connected with the name of Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy. He was not only a talented artist but an outstanding art critic and a public figure as well. He became an organiser and inspirer of the Association of Mobile Art Exhibitions (Peredvizhniki). He left behind many great paintings which are an important part of Russian art. His excellent canvases such as ‘’The Stranger’’, ‘’Christ in the Desert’’, ‘’Rusalki’’ are among the best treasures of Russian culture.

Kramskoy is also estimated for his having painted the portraits of his famous contemporaries: writers, poets, painters, actors. As a portrait- painter Kramskoy displays the great ability of understanding and revealing the inner world of his sitter. Most of his portraits are the best examples of realistic and psychological portraits. He died in 1887 while working at his easel.

The importance of Kramskoy as the leader of the ‘’Perdvizhniki’’ group and art critic cannot be overestimated. Among the brilliant artists of the ‘’Peredvizhniki’’ group are I.E. Repin, V.I.Surikov, V.G.Perov, V.E.Makovsky, V.D.Polenov, A.R.Savrasov, I.I.Shishkin, V.M.Vasnetsov, A.I.Kuindzhi, I.I.Levitan and others.

In 1923-24 some of the artists entered the Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia, which developed the traditions of the ‘’Peredvizhniki’’. I.I.Brodsky, A.M.Gerasimov,M.B.Grekov, B.V.Ioganson, E.A.Katsman and others tried to portray Soviet life in realistic manner.

At the end of the 19^th century, in 1898, in Petersburg, another art movement- ‘’Mir Iskusstva’’- was born. ‘’The World of Art’’-1898- 1924. It was organised by A.N.Benua and S.P.Dyagilev. They rejected academism and the ‘’Peredvizhniki’’ tendencies as well and accepted poetics of symbolism. Paintings and drawings by L.S.Bakst, M.V.Dobuzhinsky, E.E.Lancere, K.A.Somov and others were characterized by refined decorativeness, stylization and elegant ornamentation.

M.A.Vrubel (1856-1910) was one of the best colourists and artists of his time. His masterpieces ‘’Tsarevna-Swan’’1900, ‘’Lilac’’1900, ‘’Demon’’1902, ‘’Pearl 1904 attract people’s attention. Vrubel is called ‘’the greatest revolutioneer of Russian painting’’. He introduced symbolism in painting in the 1880-s, long before, than this style was developed by Russian poets. That is why the poets- symbolists Blok, Bryusov, Bely considered Vrubel to be the founder of Russian symbolism.

With Vrubel in Russian Art a new type of universal came into being. He painted pictures and big panels, painted churches’ walls, illustrated books, designed scene-paintings, worked in sculpture and architecture. He tried to incarnate Beauty all his life.

The beginning of the 20^th century is characteristic with an explosion in Art.

AVANT-gardism is the main trend in Art of the 20^th century. It breaks traditions and standards in Arts. Avant-gardism principles are accepted by such trends of Art as expressionism, cubism, futurism, dadaism, surrealism.

K.S.Malevich (1878-1935) is the founder of so-called ‘’Suprematism’’ ( a trend of abstract art, introduced in 1913)- combination of coloured simple geometrical figures-squares, circles, triangles; and ‘’architectones’’- three-dimensional forms, depicted on flatness. The most famous pictures by Malevich are ‘’Spring- an orchard in blossom’’1904; ‘’Shroud of Christ’’ 1908; ‘’ The Black Suprematist square’’ 1914-1915; ‘’A Girl with a red staff’’ 1932-33 etc.

V.V.Kandinsky (1866-1944), one of the founders of abstract art, who took part in the organisation of ‘’Blue-horse-rider’’ in Munich in 1911-14 and The Institute of Art Culture- Inhuk in 1920.Since 1921 he had lived abroad.

Very many talented artists added to the glory of Russian and World art. D.P.Shterenberg , V.E.Tatlin, A.Lentulov, A.V.Shevchenko, A.M.Rodchenko, A.G.Tyshler, R.Falk and many others.

Task:

I. Answer the questions:

1. What genres of Painting do you know? Give a brief definition of each genre.

2. How do you understand the words ‘’a study of human nature’’?. Give examples of famous portraits which can be said to be ‘’a study of human nature’’.

3. Using a reproduction (or a slide) of a portrait give a talk on it showing that it is a study of human nature. Through what technical devices does the painter expose the sitter’s inner qualities?

2. Give a talk on a reproduction of a landscape. What are the implications of a really good landscape? Is it just a view or is there a deeper meaning in it?

3. Find a good reproduction (or a slide) of: a) a still-life,

b) a landscape,

c) a portrait.

Give a talk on each of the reproductions describing their technical aspect. Use the words and cliches which may prove useful:

• the theme of the picture,

• the subject of the picture,

• good (weak) line,

• colouring,

• light and shade effects

• the picture is saturated with light

• the background in his pictures is always furnished

• it is very well painted

• to create beauty

• pure (vivid, brilliant, intense, luminous, shrill, soft, delicate, muddy) colours

• cold and warm tones

• the texture of the picture

• the brushstrokes are visible

• the effect is accentuated by…

1. Give a talk on your favourite genre of painting offering good reasons for your preference.

2. Imagine, that you are in a picture gallery and comment on paintings of old masters.

3. Share impressions of a recent exhibition of young Russian painters.

4. Choose the topic for discussions and reports:

1. The Russian painter you like.

2. The Russian painters you know.

3. Your favourite painter.

4. Your favourite genre of painting.

5. The painting you like.

6. Your favourite picture.

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1. Add the prepositions: ‘on’, ‘at’, ‘n’, ‘until’, ‘from’, ‘to’

1. He came to London …13^th June and left again…September.

2. They went out…half past one; they’ll be back…ten minutes.

3. He plays cricket…summer and football… winter.

4. He always leaves early… the morning and comes back late…night.

5. He rests… the weekends but works hard… Monday…Friday.

6. He was born…the nineteenth century.

7. I am working…six o’clock…Friday evening.

8. He’s busy…present. He’ll see you…30 minutes’ time.

2. Combine the sentences.

Example: The doorbell rang. He left the house.

The doorbell rang just as he was leaving the house.

1. He had an accident. He drove too fast.

2. He went out. I came in.

3. He got wet. It rained.

4. It started to rain. I set off.

5. He didn’t see the bus. He looked at the map.

6. John called. I went to bed.

7. I didn’t hear you. I listened to the radio.

7. Read and translate the text.

8. Answer the questions:

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