January and February in Russian History

1888

january 1

The avant-garde painter and inventor of color music, Vladimir Baranov-Rossine (real name: Shulim Wolf Baranov), was born on this day (December 20, 1887, old style). In his color music, inspired by symbolic artists and by the composer Alexander Skryabin, Rossine attempted to blend color and sound. He constructed an optophonic piano—an instrument whose keys produced sound and projected corresponding rays of light through filters which Rossine had painted. First shown to the public in 1916, it was just one aspect of this prolific artist’s work. Baranov left Russia with his family in 1925. His life ended tragically in January 1944, in the Auschwitz concentration camp.

1863

january 5

On this day 140 years ago Konstantin Stanislavsky (1863-1938), the man who changed the face of the modern theater, was born. Stanislavsky’s system rejected any theatricality and strived to achieve a genuine performance. Stanislavsky created a new system of actor training, which was adopted in schools and theaters around the world. Actors would research the situation created by the script, recall their personal feelings and experiences and thereby “re-incarnate” their character. In 1898, Stanislavsky, together with theater director Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, founded the Moscow Art Theater (MKhAT imeni A.P. Chekhova).

1908

january 9

This is the birthday of Lev Landau, a theoretical physicist who received the Nobel Prize in 1962 for his development of the mathematical theories that explain how superfluid helium behaves at temperatures near absolute zero. In January 1962, he was seriously injured in a car accident and suffered a severe loss of memory. By the time of his death in 1968, he had made only a partial recovery.

1898

january 10

One of this century’s greatest film innovators, Sergei Eisenstein (1898 – 1948), a director and theorist who changed the language of modern cinema with his editing techniques, was born on this day. International recognition came to Eisenstein with his 1925 film, Battleship Potemkin, especially famous for its “Odessa steps” scene. Eisenstein travelled to Hollywood to explore work opportunities, but returned to Russia empty-handed after an unsuccessful attempt to shoot the film Que Viva Mexico!, financed by Upton Sinclair. Testing the limits of Stalin’s socialist realism, he made two epic films, Alexander Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible, the latter recognized as one of the 20th century’s cinema masterpieces (with an original soundtrack by Sergei Prokofiev). Eisenstein died in February 1948. (Russian Life published a biography of Eisenstein in its February 1998 issue.)

1873

january 12

Dmitry Ushakov (1873-1942), a Moscow linguist, was born today. One of the leaders of the 1917-18 orthographic reform, he also authored the four-volume Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language and the Orthographic Dictionary of the Russian Language.

1703

january 13

Three hundred years ago today the first Russian newspaper was published. It was called Bulletin of Military and New Affairs, Worthy of Being Known and Remembered. Because of this anniversary, in 1991, this day became the official Day of the Press in Russia.

1953

january 13

On this day, the so-called Doctors’ Plot, a conspiracy of nine doctors allegedly plotting the murder of Soviet leaders, was announced in the Soviet press under the headline “Killers in White Coats.” Doctors, many of them Jewish, had begun to be arrested the previous November and they were accused of a Zionist conspiracy, tied in with the secret repression of the Jewish Antifascist Committee that began in the summer of 1952. Historians have concluded from evidence and testimony that Stalin was planning his own “final solution” to exterminate leading Soviet Jews and deport the rest to the Russian Far East. The dictator’s death in March 1953 brought an end to the horrific plan.

1853

january 16

150 years ago philosopher, poet and literary critic Vladimir Solovyov (1853-1900), son of the famous historian Sergei Solovyov, was born. Solovyov attempted to synthesize religion, scientific knowledge, and mystical experience into a system based on the idea of “Godmanhood.” He created a notion of Sophia, Divine Wisdom, with whom the universal soul must reunite. While he considered himself Orthodox, Solovyov argued that the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches must unite and form a universal Christian theocracy.

1928

january 25

Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze was born in Mamati, western Georgia on this day 75 years ago. Steadily climbing the ladder of the Komsomol and Communist Party, in 1985 Shevardnadze was voted into the Politburo and became minister of foreign affairs. A strong supporter of Gorbachev’s reforms, Shevardnadze resigned as foreign minister in 1990 to protest the waxing power of conservatives. He was reappointed to the post in November 1991, after the unsuccessful August coup, and held the post until the USSR was dissolved the following month. When Georgian President Zviad Gamsakhurdia’s regime collapsed in 1992, Shevardnadze was invited to join the State Council that lead the newly-independent country. In 1995, Shevardnadze was overwhelmingly elected to the newly restored post of president, and reelected to serve his second term in 2000. He has survived two assassination attempts – in August 1995 and February 1998.

1938

january 25

Russia’s beloved bard, singer, poet and actor, Vladimir Vysotsky was born in Moscow on this day 65 years ago. Starting out as a theatrical and film actor, Vysotsky made his first appearances as a guitar singer in the 1960’s–first in friends’ kitchens, later in concert halls. The authorities were quick to condemn him for his satirization of Soviet hypocrisy and censored his work. One of his most famous film roles was in Stanislav Govorukhin’s The Meeting Place Cannot be Changed (1979). The TV detective series was about the work of the militia in post-war Moscow; Vysotsky starred as the hard-hearted chekist Gleb Zheglov. Vysotsky died in Moscow on July 25, 1980. (Russian Life ran an article on the great bard in its February 1998 issue.)

1693

january 28

Russian Empress Anna Ivanovna (1693–1740) was born in Moscow on this day. The future empress was raised by her uncle Peter the Great (her father was Peter’s half-brother, Ivan). In 1730 the Supreme Council, an advisory body of Russian nobles, invited her to rule as tsarina, with the Council retaining control over the government. Anna signed an agreement for this arrangement, but soon disposed of the Council and assumed full sovereign power. Under Anna, Russia was ruled by her German favorites, particularly the unpopular Ernst Johann Biron. Russia also went to war for the Polish Succession (1733–1735) and, in alliance with Austria, against the Ottoman Empire (1736-1739). When Anna died in 1740, the throne was taken briefly by the son of her niece, Ivan VI, then by Peter the Great’s daughter, Elizabeth.

1918

february 1

On February 1, Russia scrapped the Julian calendar and adopted the Gregorian calendar, which was 13 days ahead. Thus, the date skipped to February 14. Since that time, historians have had to denote whether pre-1918 dates are “old-style” (Julian) or “new-style.” In the pages of Russian Life, unless otherwise noted, all dates mentioned on or before February 1, 1918 are according to the Julian Calendar; those on or after February 15, 1918 are according to the Gregorian calendar.

1873

february 1

Russia’s dramatic bass Fyodor Shalyapin was born in Kazan on this day. Practically a self-taught singer, Shalyapin joined a small provincial troupe at the age of seventeen. In 1895, he made his debut in St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theater. In 1896 he became famous at Savva Mamontov’s private opera house in Moscow. Shalyapin was gifted with both an incredibly rich voice and superb acting skill. His roles in Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, Glinka’s A Life for the Tsar, Borodin’s Prince Igor, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sadko became legendary. He was received enthusiastically in Europe, and in 1907 he first appeared at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. In 1922, Shalyapin left Russia and settled in Paris, where he died on April 12, 1938. (Russian Life published a biography of Shalyapin in its February 1998 issue.)

1883

february 1

120 years ago, theater director and actor Yevgeny Vakhtangov was born in Vladikavkaz. Vakhtangov’s path to the stage was far from direct. Entering the Physics and Mathematics Department at university, he transferred to the Faculty of Law in his second year. Meanwhile, that same year, he made his debut as a director, staging a play in the student theater. Soon thereafter, he abandoned study of the law and entered Ardashev’s drama school in Moscow. Upon his graduation in 1911, Vakhtangov was hired by the Moscow Arts Theater, where he took part in developing Konstantin Stanislavsky’s new system of acting (see January 5). A year before his death in 1922, Vakhtangov established the Third Studio of the Moscow Arts Theater, which later became the State Theater named for Vakhtangov. Vakhtangov’s interpretation of Carlo Gozzi’s Turandot, which has been part of that theare’s repertoire for 80 years, has become a classic model of Vakhtangov’s “fantastic realism.” It was also Vakhtangov’s swan song—the director was dying during its production and had to ask Stanislavsky to supervise the last rehearsals. Vakhtangov died before his most famous production went on stage.

1943

february 2

After a two month counteroffensive by the Soviet Army, Germans forces surrendered at Stalingrad. Tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides died in the Battle of Stalingrad, which reversed the tide of the Second World War. (see Russian Life’s article on the Battle of Stalingrad in the Nov/Dec 2002 issue.)

1598

february 8

On this day, after the death of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, last heir of the Ryurikovich line, Russia’s Zemsky sobor elected Boris Godunov (circa 1552-1605) ruler. The period of his reign and the eight years of palace intrigues that followed are commonly called Russia’s Time of Troubles.

1783

february 9

Nineteenth century poet and translator Vasily Zhukovsky was born on this day. The son of a landlord named Bunin and a Turkish slave, Salha, Zhukovsky was raised at the landlord’s home and given the surname of Bunin’s hanger-on, Andrei Zhukovsky. In 1815, the first collection of Zhukovsky’s poems was published, bringing him instant fame. In the same year, Zhukovsky was appointed a book reader and teacher of Russian to the royal family. From 1846 to 1841 he was mentor to crown prince Alexander (the future Tsar Alexander II). In 1833, Zhukovsky wrote the poem, “Prayer of the Russian People,” which later became known as the Russian anthem, God Save the Tsar. Zhukovsky wrote lyrical poems and odes, and introduced new forms and motifs to Russian poetry. His translations of Byron, Schiller and other English and German writers were arguably as important as his own poetry. Zhukovsky spent the last years of his life in Germany, where, already going blind, he translated Homer’s “Iliad.” Zhukovsky died in Baden-Baden in 1852.

1923

february 9

Today is considered the birthday of Soviet civil aviation. The first state airline, Dobrolyot, was established. The “dobro” in the name came not from the word “good,” but from the word “voluntary” in the line’s full name: “Russian Society of the Voluntary Air Fleet.” On March 26, 1932, it was renamed Aeroflot.

1903

february 10

The composer of the famous song Katyusha, Matvei Blanter (1903-1990), would have turned 100 today. A prolific artist, Blanter wrote the music for just about every Soviet war song. Interestingly, Katyusha was written two years before Russia went to war against Germany, in 1939.

1878

february 11

Russian abstract painter Kazimir Malevich was born in Kiev on this day. Malevich was influenced by different styles and schools at different stages of his life. He is most noted, however, for developing a new artistic style, suprematism. It was “objectless” art, using only simple geometric elements, rectangles and squares (e.g. his “Black Square,” 1913). Malevich died in Leningrad in 1935.

1613

february 11

The Zemsky sobor crowned Mikhail Romanov tsar on this day. The Romanov family ruled Russia for the next 304 years, almost to the day.

1803

february 13

Widows’ homes and hospitals for the poor were established in St. Petersburg and Moscow on this day at the initiative of Empress Maria Fyodorovna. Widows’ homes were shelters for poor widows,  left without means of subsistence. To take care of the homes’ residents, a special group of “compassionate widows” was created.

1828

february 20

The Monument to Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky was unveiled in Moscow’s Red Square on this day to commemorate their rallying of Russian forces against Polish invaders in 1611-1612. The success in ousting the Poles from Moscow led to the seating of Mikhail Romanov on the Russian throne in 1613.

1858

february 26

Vladimir Serbsky, one of the founders of Russian forensic psychiatry, was born on this day. Graduating from the Faculty of Medicine at Moscow University in 1883, he started his psychiatric career as the head doctor at a psychiatric clinic in Tambov. He was sent abroad by the local authorities to conduct research and visit mental clinics. Later, he became Doctor of Medicine, professor and co-chairman of the Society of Psychiatrists of Moscow State University. Serbsky wrote a number of groundbreaking works on forensic psychiatry. Unfortunately, during the Soviet era, his name was blackened when the Moscow institute bearing his name became a notorious site for psychological imprisonment of political prisoners.

Valery Kharlamov, who some have called the most dynamic hockey player ever, was born on January 14, 1948. Kharlamov’s record is astounding: he was a world champion eight times, two times an Olympic champion and eleven times a USSR champion. In the historic Soviet-Canadian ice hockey series in 1972, the Soviet team won the first match 7:3, with two goals by Kharlamov. Two different NHL teams said they would offer up to a million dollars to get Kharlamov, praised as the best Soviet player at the match.

Unfortunately, Kharlamov had as much bad luck on the road as he had skill on the ice. In 1976, his legs were seriously hurt in an auto accident. Still, six months later, he was back on the ice, winning new matches and acclaim for his club, CSKA. But Kharlamov could not fool fate. On August 27, 1981, when returning to Moscow from the dacha with his wife, he had another car crash, this one fatal. Ten years later, a devoted fan erected a 500-kg marble puck at the 74th kilometer of Leningradskoe highway, where the accident took place.

The Red Army, known after the Second World War as the Soviet Army, was established on January 15, 1918. The Red Navy was established later the same month, on January 29. Membership in the Red Army was originally voluntary, in keeping with communist ideals. But within months the army switched to compulsory conscription, which continues to this day.