Теги:

Concert by Natalia Sakhnovskaya and Robert Gerbek at the Leningrad Philharmonic. 31 October 1942
Continuation of Sakhnovskaya’s memoirs: “The Philharmonic offered Robert and me the chance to perform a duo concert in the Great Hall. We agreed and, in between work with the ballet company and concerts for military commanders, we began to rehearse for this important encounter with the audience. It took place on 31 October 1942. About four in the afternoon we arrived at the Philharmonic and stood rooted to the ground: the door was shut. In one and a half years the administration had simply forgotten that we need time to prepare. The woman on duty came half an hour before the concert. It was pointless being angry, and we couldn’t get nervous – it would mean less nervous energy for the rest of the evening. We sat down on the steps of the grand staircase. We began to do our make-up. (...) I don’t remember when they opened the door... I only remember standing behind the heavy velvet portières of our beloved Philharmonic, and when the portières were swept back we stood on the lit stage.
In a trice our fears and anxiety had disappeared, replaced with joy, tremendous joy... Never, it seemed, had we danced with such pleasure, never had we felt such a complete response. The gentle faces and warm welcome were our rewards... We were asked to repeat the concert but the freezing weather had arrived and the hall was not heated. It was only in 1943 that we were able to repeat our programme at the Philharmonic and in the Leisure Park.”
N. Sakhovskaya. Memoirs. From the Ballet Dancer's Diary // Soviet Ballet. 1983. №3. P. 59-60