The Year of Literature in Russia 2015: Exhibition “Musical illustrations to Pushkin’s “Blizzard” timed to the centennial of birth of G. Sviridov to be held in Moscow

The exhibition "Musical illustrations to Pushkin’s "Blizzard" opened October 27th, 2015 in the Central Museum of Musical Culture (Moscow). It was prepared by the Glinka All-Russian Museum Association of Musical Culture in time for the 100th anniversary of birth of G. Sviridov.

An outstanding composer Georgy Sviridov (1915-1980) is known primarily as the author of vocal and vocal-symphonic works. These are song, romances, cantatas, oratorios, choral works, telling about the life of Russia in the twentieth century. The composer created many important works in instrumental genres as well. He wrote the music for a number of plays and films. Among the works of Sviridov there is also one written in the genre of musical illustrations: the music for the film by Vladimir Basov "Blizzard" (1965), based on the novel of the same name by Alexander Pushkin.

The composer was attracted by the idea to recreate in this musical work the image of provincial Russia of the 19^th century. This work was a kind of retrospective of the bygone, but cute, attractive, nostalgic life.

The exhibition design in the Central Museum of Musical Culture was determined by the scenes of the literary and musical works. It focused on three episodes of the story: the winter road, the scene of the ball and the explanation near the rotunda.

Among the exhibits there are graphic works from the collection of the State Literary Museum, National Pushkin Museum, State Central Museum of Cinema. The atmosphere of the musical salon of Pushkin's time was recreated by the furniture, household items and costumes from the collections of the Glinka All-Russian Museum Association of Musical Culture, Central Academic Theatre of Russian Army, and State Historical Museum-Reserve "Lenin Hills."

The exhibition runs until January 31, 2016.