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Video: Maya Plisetskaya and Rodion Shchedrin: ballets instead of bouquets
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
History knows a lot of cases when a meeting of two talented people kindles a spark of passion and a bright, but very short romance. But it happens that two incredibly talented people meet, who are united not only by passionate feelings, but also by common life hobbies, close outlooks on life. These are meetings of a lifetime. This is exactly what the meeting between ballerina Maya Plisetskaya and composer Rodion Shchedrin became.
They met so as not to part anymore. Their family and creative union has existed for almost six decades, presenting the world with real masterpieces of world art, which are recognized as world heritage.
Composer and ballerina
It was 1955. The living room of the extraordinary woman Lily Brik, at that time the wife of Vasily Katanyan, was full of people. Among those invited to the musical evening were the young composer Rodion Shchedrin and the talented ballerina Maya Plisetskaya. Entertaining the guests, Shchedrin sat down at the instrument and performed several things with a heartfelt tone. Plisetskaya came to unwind a little for the evening, she was going through a divorce from her husband (the marriage lasted only three months).
She was impressed by the magnificent performance of works by Chopin and the "Left March". But on that day, Cupid seems to have forgotten the bow and arrow - the ballerina drew attention to the talented musician, but nothing more. After the evening was over, Shchedrin offered to give a ride home to a French couple and at the same time invited the red-haired ballerina he liked to the car. Cunningly chose the route to land Plisetskaya last. In parting, the ballerina asked her new acquaintance to bring notes of the melody from the movie "Ramp Lights" for work.
Shchedrin happily fulfilled Plisetskaya's order, but nothing came of the new dance. The composer was offended and even refused to come to the birthday of the ballet prima. The next meeting took place only three years later. Of course, they, like people moving in art, occasionally met, greeted and dispersed. Shchedrin drew attention to the elegantly dressed Ballerina, who appeared accompanied by suitors, but the romance somehow did not work out.
Love at the ballet barre
1958 year. The Bolshoi Theater management commissioned the popular composer Rodion Shchedrin to write music for the new ballet The Little Humpbacked Horse. The work was serious, the maestro needed inspiration. And then the choreographer Radunsky invited the composer to come to the Bolshoi Theater and watch the rehearsals of the ballerinas. Looking into the ballet class in the morning, Shchedrin saw Maya at the ballet barn, the ballerina was wearing a tight leotard, emphasizing her beautiful figure and grace, and fell in love. Later, the composer recalled that he was struck by the beauty of the ballerina, her slenderness, gorgeous hair and soulful eyes. The admired musician invited the ballerina to take a walk, Plisetskaya agreed. A six-month romance began.
They met, he attended all her performances at the Bolshoi Theater, and at the end he took her home by car. At that time, Plisetskaya was not going through the best time. She was charged with espionage and was constantly monitored by people in civilian clothes. At times, the ballerina was not on the verge of a moral breakdown. Shchedrin decided that now his beloved woman needs support and a strong man's shoulder, and took her on vacation to Karelia. Upon their return, they went to the registry office and signed on October 2, 1958. During the painting, an employee of the Wedding Palace wished the spouses "grow old on one pillow." Plisetskaya and Shchedrin fully fulfilled this wish.
More than half a century of family
The novel, which began within the walls of the Bolshoi Theater, lasted fifty-seven years. And all these years, music, ballets, mutual understanding and great love. Shchedrin wrote many of his works especially for his wife and presented them to her as gifts, and she shone in the parts written for her husband.
Of course, the composer presented flowers to his wife, on special occasions and on joint dates, but most of all Plisetskaya loved to listen to her husband's new works. And for him the best gift was her amazing dancing and endless attention. They ideally suited each other and suited each other both in creativity and in life. Plisetskaya was always distinguished by a difficult character, but at the same time she was easygoing. And Shchedrin was always patient and attentive to his wife. In an interview, Shchedrin said that the secret of their long and happy family life was in a common cause, interests and in the absence of time for unnecessary arguments and grievances.
The day came when the great ballerina Maya Plisetskaya left this world, leaving a will: “To burn our bodies after death, and when the sad hour of the death of one of us who lived longer comes, or in the case of our simultaneous death, combine our two ashes together and dispel over Russia."
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