The Peterburg text of Georgy Sviridov

Abstract

The essay is dedicated to the unique history of the poem setting by Georgy Sviridov ‘Petersburg’ for baritone and piano to the words by Alexander Blok in nine parts. The setting is the result of close collaboration with the composer singer Dmitri Khvorostovsky and pianist Michael Arkadyev, the active participation of artists in the selection of songs and the order of their alternation in the piece. This was made possible thanks to the deep-nurtured plan of the mega-cycle by Sviridov to Blok’s words, tentatively titled the ‘Bol’shoy (Big) Blok’ or ‘From Blok’. The article presents the history of the great place of birth of this plan, the history of the Sviridov’s incorporation of Blok’s poetic heritage, discusses the influence of Blok’s ideological heritage and the poetics Sviridov creativity. The essay also addresses the issue of the tradition of artistic and philosophical understanding of one of the important themes of Russian discourse: the Petersburg theme. The rich history of the St. Petersburg text takes its place also in Georgy Sviridov’s ‘Peterburgiana’. Refs 11. Figs 6.