Театральная жизнь блокадного Ленинграда

Theatrical life of blockaded Leningrad

Made by Emyasheva L.V.

Leningrad became a front-line city from the first day of the war. Despite the fact that the front has moved to the city, in Leningrad continued an intense theatrical and concert life. The city still had many theatres.

Today this seems almost impossible, but this looked as a rate. Because even in the most difficult days people went there where it was possible even for two hours, even for an hour to forget about the terrifying reality and to be in the living world of theatre, music or cinema.

The actors of the theatres: Gribov, T. Legat, S. Preobrazhensky, A. Barsky, Boris Gorin-Goryainov, E. Studentsov, N. Zheleznova, etc. The people saw: drama "Invasion", "Russian people" Verdi's Opera "La Traviata" , musical Comedy "Silva", "Eugene Onegin", Karmen, ballet "Esmeralda", operettas: "Wedding in Malinovka", "Love of the sailor", "The Seller of birds", “Oleko Dundich”, “ Bayadera”. 56 artists died right on the stage or on the way to it.

All the theatres continued to work when their buildings were out of order or in danger. In January 1942 three theatres began their performances: the Theatre of Comedy, the Lenin Komsomol Theatre and the Theatre of Leningrad city Council.

Theatres, concert halls, Philharmonic were full. Exhausted by days of the blockade, people found the strength to watch performances and concerts. During the day the actors washed, cleaned, repaired costumes and in the evening were performances. Performances began early, at 17.30 and played before curfew. There were special performances for soldiers at the front, as well as for workers of plants.

For a long time after the performances, the audience remained in high spirit. Soldier, who visited the theatre, wrote enthusiastic letters to the actors from the front.

The theatre of musical Comedy worked non-stop. People watched the performances with interest, even with delight.

Magazine "Ogonyok" wrote in 1943: "Town theatre was theatre - agitator, theatre-educator".

The art of blockaded Leningrad became a symbol of the inexhaustible will to live, the hot belief of Russian people in victory against fascism.

Sources of information:

stat-ia-tieatral-no-kontsiertnaia-zhizn-lieninghrada-vo-vriemia-blokady

https://www.sites.google.com/a/school567.edu.ru/blokada-grani/blokadnye-teatry

https://www.spb.kp.ru/daily/26148.7/3036896/

http://pomniblokadu.ru/news/15347990

http://journal.komedianty.com/teatr-kak-uchastnik-voennyh-deystviy/