The Inhabitants of Kharkov and the Wagnerian Festival in Bayreuth: Cultural Contacts

Abstract

The purpose of the present article is to reveal the peculiarities of the origin and development of cultural contacts between Kharkiv cultural figures and R. Wagner, with his descendants, with the Wagner Opera Festival in Bayreuth, and the Wagner Society in Kharkiv. The role of Kharkiv scholars at the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth is shown in connection with the study and popularization of the creative heritage of the German master. Particular attention is paid to the unknown facts of the creative biography of Kharkiv musician J. Rubinstein. The object of the research is the musical culture of Kharkiv and Bayreuth in the 19th – 20th centuries. The subject of research is the specificity of the origin and development of cultural contacts between Kharkiv cultural figures and R. Wagner, with the Wagner Opera Festival in Bayreuth, and the Wagner Society in Kharkiv. The scientific novelty of the study primarily lies in revealing of unknown facts in the creative biography of Joseph Rubinstein, talented musician from Kharkiv. Based on archive materials, which are published in translation for the first time, we shed light on the tragedy of his personality that shows up in hard relationship with R. Wagner. That approach is a contrast to the tendency of literature mythologization of the forgotten artist’s image. Research methods : historical which has allowed considering the concrete phenomena of a musical life of Kharkiv and Bayreuth in certain development, and also comparative which has given the chance to investigate similarity and differences between these phenomena. On the basis of archival materials, the peculiarities of Rubinstein’s creative path are traced, which are connected with complicated relationships with R. Wagner and his entourage. The involvement of a Kharkiv musician is emphasized not only to the birth but also to the direct embodiment of the theatrical projects of the German masters. The author has pointed out the involvement of a Kharkiv musician not only to the birth, but also to the direct embodiment of theatrical projects of the German masters. The role of M. Baag-Popova, who was involved in the revival of the opera festival in Bayreuth after the Second World War, was emphasized in the organization of the Wagner Society. Her work at the secretariat of the orchestra and in the press office of the festival has lasted for 12 years. After visiting Kharkov (1996), two Wagnerian Societies were organized – in Kharkiv and Kyiv, which were headed respectively by H. Verkina and M. Cherkashina-Gubarenko. As result , the uniqueness of creative contacts between figures of the musical culture of Kharkiv and Bayreuth is proved. The results of the 20 year activity of the Wagner Society in Kharkiv were summed up, the main directions of its work were described: scientific and educational (various projects, reports, discussions, Olympiads concerning the music Wagner theater, works of his contemporaries and followers, during which deal with various musical – theatrical interpretations of Wagner’s texts); Concert (concerts-lectures with the participation of students of the secondary specialized school, students of the musical college and the university of arts, artists of the Philharmonic and the Opera House). It is also about the implemented measures to create musical dedications in honor of R. Wagner and their performance in memorial concerts.