Art Yalta 1900 — is a special point in space and time, a point of intersection of destinies and the concentration of creative forces.
Spring of the Art Theatre Gilinsky D. D., 1988
A.P. Chekhov's Yalta Museum-House
A.P. Chekhov's Yalta Museum-House
A high point in the history of Yalta
and a turning point in the history of the world culture
Яркий момент в истории Ялты / Яркий момент в истории Ялты / Яркий момент в истории Ялты / Яркий момент в истории Ялты /
и поворотный в истории мировой культуры / и поворотный в истории мировой культуры / и поворотный в истории мировой культуры /
Яркий момент в истории Ялты / Яркий момент в истории Ялты / Яркий момент в истории Ялты / Яркий момент в истории Ялты /
Яркий момент в истории Ялты / Яркий момент в истории Ялты / Яркий момент в истории Ялты / Яркий момент в истории Ялты /
и поворотный в истории мировой культуры / и поворотный в истории мировой культуры / и поворотный в истории мировой культуры /
и поворотный в истории мировой культуры / и поворотный в истории мировой культуры / и поворотный в истории мировой культуры /
There are about 16 thousand people living in Yalta in 1900,
but only one of them will be the main character of this story.
but only one of them will be the main character of this story.
Anton Chekhov
ANTON
CHekHOv
A. Chekhov in the study at his house in Yalta. 1899−1904
КA. P. Chekhov's Yalta Museum-House
КA. P. Chekhov's Yalta Museum-House
Let us turn back time a bit.
We could start with the birth of Chekhov, but that would be too long a story, so we’ll just tell you about the important meetings that are bound to have consequences.
We could start with the birth of Chekhov, but that would be too long a story, so we’ll just tell you about the important meetings that are bound to have consequences.
This is how the Moscow Art Theater was born
Appearance
MAT
Moscow, 22d of June 1887
A pair of imposing men meets at the Slavic Bazaar restaurant.
They drank, ate, and talked for 18 hours.
It took 18 hours to form the program and principles of the new theater.
And at the same time to create the basis for a major turn in the development of the world theater.
And at the same time to create the basis for a major turn in the development of the world theater.
The other is a young,
promising director
Konstantin Stanislavski
promising director
Konstantin Stanislavski
One is an acknowledged teacher and playwright
Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko
Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko
Illustration of L. Tokmakov
V. Nemirovich-Danchenko and K. Stanislavski. 1906
Museum of MAAT
Museum of MAAT
Meeting
Knipper
Moscow, 14th of October 1898
He meets the main actress of the play, Olga Knipper
(Tsarina Irina).
(Tsarina Irina).
By the way, Chekhov is already very famous at that time.
The young theater releases its new production
Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich.
The success is incredible!
But it is more important for our story that the rehearsals of this play were visited by
Anton Chekhov.
Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich.
The success is incredible!
But it is more important for our story that the rehearsals of this play were visited by
Anton Chekhov.
The voice, the noble spirit, the heartedness.
If I had stayed in Moscow, I would have fallen in love with this Irina»
If I had stayed in Moscow, I would have fallen in love with this Irina»
«
A. Chekhov:
Falling in love will be unavoidable
Olga Knipper as Tsarina Irina
for the performance Tsar Fedor Ioanovich. 1898
Museum of MAAT
for the performance Tsar Fedor Ioanovich. 1898
Museum of MAAT
Scene from the performance Tsar Fedor Ioanovich. 1898
Museum of MAAT
Museum of MAAT
Friendship
Nizhny Novgorod, 24th of October 1898
I repeat, I would be very
happy if we could meet
and talk for an hour or two.
happy if we could meet
and talk for an hour or two.
If I am pestering you with all this, say it openly. Or perhaps I’ll keep writing"
»
Maxim Gorky wrote his first letter to Chekhov.
This is how a strong friendship started.
This is how a strong friendship started.
gorky
A. Chekhov:
I would like to declare my sincerest ardent love for you.
I’m shaking your hand, the hand of an artist and a warm-hearted, sad man.
And they met and talked
and not for an hour.
and not for an hour.
"You are an artist, a clever man,
you have a perfect feeling.
you have a perfect feeling.
M. Gorky:
«
This was the future of the Moscow Art Theater
A. Chekhov and M. Gorky in Yalta. 1900
Museum of MAAT
Museum of MAAT
Chekhov will spend five years in Yalta.
And he will create
a masterpiece — a garden.
And he will create
a masterpiece — a garden.
How did he end up there?
You can’t argue with it.
The disease first began showing itself when Chekhov was only 24.
The disease first began showing itself when Chekhov was only 24.
In 1889 his brother Nikolay dies of tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis.
Anton Pavlovich agrees, buys a land plot
and builds a house in Yalta.
and builds a house in Yalta.
Yalta, 20th of October 1898
in Yalta
Chekhov
Doctors confirm Chekhov’s terrible diagnosis and advise him to move to the south.
And not just one
by the way,
A. Chekhov in Yalta. 1899
Museum of MAAT
Museum of MAAT
House of A. Chekhov in Yalta. 1899
Crimean Literary and Artistic Memorial Museum-Reserve
Crimean Literary and Artistic Memorial Museum-Reserve
Characters
Winter of 1900, Yalta
1
The sea is wonderful, blue and gentle, like the hair of an innocent girl.
One can live for 1,000 years on its shore and never get bored»
One can live for 1,000 years on its shore and never get bored»
«
«I'm sick to death of this lovely city, like of an unloved wife.
It will cure me of tuberculosis,
but it will make me ten years older
It will cure me of tuberculosis,
but it will make me ten years older
»
Chekhov’s relationship with the city
was complicated.
was complicated.
2
Sixteen thousand people live in Yalta, and half of them die of tuberculosis (well, we don’t know how many, but the atmosphere is unhealthy)
3
Chekhov is preparing collected works and
has to reread everything he has written
(R — reflection)
has to reread everything he has written
(R — reflection)
4
He turns 40 in great recognition,
but is totally alone.
It seems that life has already passed
but is totally alone.
It seems that life has already passed
5
Besides, Knipper is in Moscow, and she seems to be keener on the Art Theater and Nemirovich-Danchenko than on a romance by correspondence
Yalta has a disadvantage. It is not Moscow, it’s boring there.
And what about MAT?
Through the efforts of
Nemirovich-Danchenko,
Chekhov’s plays
The Seagull и Uncle Vanya
are in the theater’s repertoire.
Nemirovich-Danchenko,
Chekhov’s plays
The Seagull и Uncle Vanya
are in the theater’s repertoire.
«Everyone understood that the destiny of the theater depended on the outcome of the play»
This is the only theater that I love,
even though I have never been to it»
even though I have never been to it»
«
A. Chekhov:
"If Mohammed doesn’t go to the mountain, the mountain goes to Mohammed!
We’re bringing the Moscow Art Theater to Yalta in April, to show you the plays and make you happy.
We’re bringing the Moscow Art Theater to Yalta in April, to show you the plays and make you happy.
K. Stanislavski:
»
Newspaper The Peterburgsky Listok
(1896, № 288)
(1896, № 288)
The Seagull died. It was killed by the unanimous hissing of the entire audience. As if millions of bees, wasps, bumblebees filled the air of the house: so strong and poisonous was the hissing
The first production of The Seagull at the Alexandrinsky Theater failed disastrously. Chekhov decided not to write for the theater anymore.
Chekhov the playwright was saved by Nemirovich-Danchenko by persuading everyone to take a risk and stage the failed The Seagull at the Art Theater
«
Chekhov? The Seagull? Is it possible to play that! I don’t understand anything!"
K. Stanislavski:
"The Seagull is the pride of our dramatic art. They don’t understand it?
But they’ll understand it soon.
But they’ll understand it soon.
V. Nemirovich-Danchenko:
»
They took a risk and…
Chekhov is the success and main hope of the Moscow Art Theater. But the paradox is that the playwright has not seen a single performance of his plays. His health does not allow him to go to Moscow.
Even the symbol of the theater was a seagull flying into the future.
The Seagull has just been played, it was a tremendous success. We’re crazy with happiness. We are giving you a big kiss
STANISLAVSKI TO CHEKHOV
— TELEGRAM
— TELEGRAM
— TELEGRAM
— TELEGRAM
You’ve given life to my The Seagull
Thank you!
Thank you!
CHEKHOV TO
NEMIROVICH-DANCHENKO
NEMIROVICH-DANCHENKO
— GRATITUDE
— GRATITUDE
29th of December, 1898
— GRATITUDE
— GRATITUDE
— GRATITUDE
yalta
Saint petersburg
odessa
nizhny
novgorod
novgorod
moscow
Newspaper «Crimean Vestnik»
(March, 1900)
(March, 1900)
«Our theatrical season starts with the chic it has never had before.
Our audience has bought up all the tickets and now is sitting in pleasant anticipation of…something.
What is this Art Theatre like?
What is its essence, what distinguishes it...?»
Our audience has bought up all the tickets and now is sitting in pleasant anticipation of…something.
What is this Art Theatre like?
What is its essence, what distinguishes it...?»
10th-23d of April 1900
There were 12 performances.
All tickets were sold out.
All tickets were sold out.
Tour in Sevastopol and Yalta
SOLD OUT
all the tickets are sold out
The seagull
The Seagull
A comedy with a bird’s name. Lots of talk about literature, little action and five poods of love.
Playwright: Anton Chekhov
Directors: K. Stanislavski,
V. Nemirovich-Danchenko
Directors: K. Stanislavski,
V. Nemirovich-Danchenko
Cast:
A scene from the performance The Seagull. 1898
Museum of MAAT
Museum of MAAT
Irina Arkadina, an actress — O. Knipper • Konstantin Treplev, her son, a young man — V. Meyerhold • Pyotr Sorin, her brother — V. Luzhski • Nina Zarechnaya, a young woman, the daughter of a rich landowner — M. Roksanova • Boris Trigorin, a writer — K. Stanislavski • Evgeny Dorn, a doctor — A. Vishnevski and others. Irina Arkadina, an actress — O. Knipper • Konstantin Treplev, her son, a young man — V. Meyerhold • Pyotr Sorin, her brother — V. Luzhski • Nina Zarechnaya, a young woman, the daughter of a rich landowner — M. Roksanova • Boris Trigorin, a writer — K. Stanislavski • Evgeny Dorn, a doctor — A. Vishnevski and others.
Irina Arkadina, an actress — O. Knipper • Konstantin Treplev, her son, a young man — V. Meyerhold • Pyotr Sorin, her brother — V. Luzhski • Nina Zarechnaya, a young woman, the daughter of a rich landowner — M. Roksanova • Boris Trigorin, a writer — K. Stanislavski • Evgeny Dorn, a doctor — A. Vishnevski and others. Irina Arkadina, an actress — O. Knipper • Konstantin Treplev, her son, a young man — V. Meyerhold • Pyotr Sorin, her brother — V. Luzhski • Nina Zarechnaya, a young woman, the daughter of a rich landowner — M. Roksanova • Boris Trigorin, a writer — K. Stanislavski • Evgeny Dorn, a doctor — A. Vishnevski and others.
Irina Arkadina, an actress — O. Knipper • Konstantin Treplev, her son, a young man — V. Meyerhold • Pyotr Sorin, her brother — V. Luzhski • Nina Zarechnaya, a young woman, the daughter of a rich landowner — M. Roksanova • Boris Trigorin, a writer — K. Stanislavski • Evgeny Dorn, a doctor — A. Vishnevski and others. Irina Arkadina, an actress — O. Knipper • Konstantin Treplev, her son, a young man — V. Meyerhold • Pyotr Sorin, her brother — V. Luzhski • Nina
Irina Arkadina, an actress — O. Knipper • Konstantin Treplev, her son, a young man — V. Meyerhold • Pyotr Sorin, her brother — V. Luzhski • Nina Zarechnaya, a young woman, the daughter of a rich landowner — M. Roksanova • Boris Trigorin, a writer — K. Stanislavski • Evgeny Dorn, a doctor — A. Vishnevski and others. Irina Arkadina, an actress — O. Knipper • Konstantin Treplev, her son, a young man — V. Meyerhold • Pyotr Sorin, her brother — V. Luzhski • Nina
Interesting fact
One of the sources of inspiration in the work on the play was the attempted suicide of Isaac Levitan, Chekhov’s friend, who got entangled with love relationships.
To relax, the friends went for a hunt, during which Levitan shot a seagull for fun, which he was very sorry about later.
uncle vanya
Uncle Vanya
A story about a missed life in a rural setting.
Playwright: Anton Chekhov
Directors: K. Stanislavski,
V. Nemirovich-Danchenko
Directors: K. Stanislavski,
V. Nemirovich-Danchenko
Serebryakov Aleksandr Vladimirovich, a retired university professor — V. Luzhski • Sonya, his daughter from his first marriage, a niece of uncle Vanya — M. Lilina • Elena Andreevna, his wife — O. Knipper • Voynitskaya Maria Vasilyevna, the widow of a privy councilor and mother of Vanya and Serebryakov’s first wife — E. Raevskaya • Voynitsky Ivan Petrovich — uncle Vanya, her son — A. Vishnevsky • Astrov Mikhail Lvovich, a doctor — K. Stanislavski and others
Maria Vasilyevna,the widow of a privy councilor and mother of Vanya and Serebryakov’s first wife — E. Raevskaya • Voynitsky Ivan Petrovich — uncle Vanya, her son — A. Vishnevsky • Astrov Mikhail Lvovich, a doctor — K. Stanislavski and othersMaria Vasilyevna,the widow of a privy councilor and mother of Vanya and Serebryakov’s first wife — E. Raevskaya • Voynitsky Ivan Petrovich — uncle Vanya, her son — A. Vishnevsky • Astrov Mikhail Lvovich, a doctor Stanislavski and others
Serebryakov Aleksandr Vladimirovich, a retired university professor — V. Luzhski • Sonya, his daughter from his first marriage, a niece of uncle Vanya — M. Lilina • Elena Andreevna, his wife — O. Knipper • Voynitskaya Maria Vasilyevna, the widow of a privy councilor and mother of Vanya and Serebryakov’s first wife — E. Raevskaya • Voynitsky Ivan Petrovich — uncle Vanya, her son — A. Vishnevsky • Astrov Mikhail Lvovich, a doctor — K. Stanislavski and others
Maria Vasilyevna,the widow of a privy councilor and mother of Vanya and Serebryakov’s first wife — E. Raevskaya • Voynitsky Ivan Petrovich — uncle Vanya, her son — A. Vishnevsky • Astrov Mikhail Lvovich, a doctor — K. Voynitskaya Maria Vasilyevna, the widow of a privy councilor and mother of Vanya and Serebryakov’s first wife — E. Raevskaya • Voynitsky Ivan Petrovich — uncle Vanya, her son — A. Vishnevsky • Astrov Mikhail Lvovich, a doctor — K. Stanislavski and oth others
Cast:
And in spite of this, the play was a success
But Tolstoy did not agree with this assessment
»
L. Tolstoy:
M. Chekhova:
«
M. Gorky:
I have never seen such uproar in the house. Everyone was applauding, shouting, raving…»
«There are brilliant passages in Uncle Vanya, but the situation lacks tragedy … the guitar, the cricket — everything is so good that what’s the point of looking for something else?
«
I saw Uncle Vanya the other day and cried like a woman, although I’m far from being a nervous person… Looking at the characters I felt as if I were being sawed with a blunt saw"
A scene from the performance Uncle Vanya. 1899
Museum of MAAT
Museum of MAAT
A scene from the performance Uncle Vanya. 1899
Museum of MAAT
Museum of MAAT
interesting fact
Actor Vishnevsky had been going to the Sandunov’s baths for a whole month to listen to the crickets' chirrup and reproduce it on the stage. It is known that crickets love living in the sweating room and start shouting when steam is supplied. In the play, however, the cricket became one of the symbols of cozy country life.
«uncle vanya»
«Pens scrape, the cricket screams. It’s warm and cozy… I don’t want to leave here»
Hedda gabler
Hedda Gabler
The tragedy on an antique scale about the fact that life among philistines is so nauseating that it is better to shoot oneself
Playwright: Henrik Ibsen
Director: K. Stanislavski
Director: K. Stanislavski
Cast:
Maria Andreeva starring Hedda Gabler in the performance Hedda Gabler. 1899
Museum of MAAT
Museum of MAAT
George Tesman, an academic, Hedda’s husband — I. Moskvin • Hedda Tesman (Gabler), his wife — M. Andreeva • Eilert Lövborg, George’s former colleague — K. Stanislavski • Judge Brack — A. Vishnevsky • and others George Tesman, an academic, Hedda’s husband — I. Moskvin • Hedda Tesman (Gabler), his wife — M. Andreeva • Eilert Lövborg, George’s former colleague — K. Stanislavski • Judge Brack — A. Vishnevsky • and others
George Tesman, an academic, Hedda’s husband — I. Moskvin • Hedda Tesman (Gabler), his wife — M. Andreeva • Eilert Lövborg, George’s former colleague — K. Stanislavski • Judge Brack — A. Vishnevsky • and others
George Tesman, an academic, Hedda’s husband — I. Moskvin • Hedda Tesman (Gabler), his wife — M. Andreeva • Eilert Lövborg, George’s former colleague — K. Stanislavski • Judge Brack — A. Vishnevsky • and others
George Tesman, an academic, Hedda’s husband — I. Moskvin • HeddGeorge Tesman, an academic, Hedda’s husband — I. Moskvin • Hedda Tesman (Gabler), his wife — M. Andreeva • Eilert Lövborg, George’s former colleague — K. Stanislavski • Judge Brack — A. Vishnevsky • and others
George Tesman, an academic, Hedda’s husband — I. Moskvin • Hedda Tesman (Gabler), his wife — M. Andreeva • Eilert Lövborg, George’s former colleague — K. Stanislavski • Judge Brack — A. Vishnevsky • and others
George Tesman, an academic, Hedda’s husband — I. Moskvin • Hedda Tesman (Gabler), his wife — M. Andreeva • Eilert Lövborg, George’s former colleague — K. Stanislavski • Judge Brack — A. Vishnevsky • and others
interesting fact
Stanislavsky recalled: «When Hedda Gabler was in progress, Chekhov would often go into the make-up rooms during an intermission and stay there while the act was on. We felt discouraged: it means he doesn’t like it, we thought, if he doesn’t hurry into the auditorium. And when we asked him about it, and he said quite unexpectedly for us:
— Look, Ibsen is not a playwright!»
Lonely Lives
Lonely Lives
A play about the search for one’s life purpose in the conditions of a love triangle
Playwright: Gerhart Hauptmann
Directors: K. Stanislavski,
V. Nemirovich-Danchenko
Directors: K. Stanislavski,
V. Nemirovich-Danchenko
Cast:
»
K. Stanislavski:
V. Nemirovich-Danchenko to
K. Stanislavski:
K. Stanislavski:
«As Chekhov disliked Ibsen, so he loved Hauptmann
«
The play is unequalled, it must be certainly staged, and all honor and glory to you for having found it»
Vasily Kachalov starring John Vockerat in the performance Lonely Lives. 1899
Museum of MAAT
Museum of MAAT
John Vockerat — V. Meyerhold • Kitty, his wife — M. Andreeva • Anna Mahr, student — O. Knipper and others
John Vockerat — V. Meyerhold • Kitty, his wife — M. Andreeva • Anna Mahr, student — O. Knipper and others
John Vockerat — V. Meyerhold • Kitty, his wife — M. Andreeva • Anna Mahr, student — O. Knipper and others
John Vockerat — V. Meyerhold • Kitty, his wife — M. Andreeva • Anna Mahr, student — O. Knipper and others
John Vockerat — V. Meyerhold • Kitty, his wife — M. Andreeva • Anna Mahr, student — O. Knipper and others
John Vockerat — V. Meyerhold • Kitty, his wife — M. Andreeva • Anna Mahr, student — O. Knipper and others
John Vockerat — V. Meyerhold • Kitty, his wife — M. Andreeva • Anna Mahr, student — O. Knipper and others
John Vockerat — V. Meyerhold • Kitty, his wife — M. Andreeva • Anna Mahr, student — O. Knipper and others
interesting fact
In 1912, Hauptmann wrote the novel Atlantis which became the basis for the Danish silent film of the same name.
The novel with the storyline including romance aboard a doomed ocean liner was written one month before the Titanic disaster, and its film adaptation was released a year after the wreck.
The tour was a big event and brought together an incredible creative community in Yalta.
After the rehearsals and performances, the artists of the Moscow Art Theater, Stanislavsky, Nemirovich-Danchenko, Knipper, Gorky, Mamin-Sibiryak, Bunin, and Rachmaninov gathered in Chekhov's garden and thought, argued, created…
After the rehearsals and performances, the artists of the Moscow Art Theater, Stanislavsky, Nemirovich-Danchenko, Knipper, Gorky, Mamin-Sibiryak, Bunin, and Rachmaninov gathered in Chekhov's garden and thought, argued, created…
«
»
K. Stanislavsky recalled
All the writers present here as if suddenly remembered the existence of the theater, and some secretly, some explicitly dreamed of a play
that was the atmosphere in which we were at that time.
«Gorky with his stories about his wandering life, Mamin-Sibiryak with his unusually bold humor to the point of buffoonery at times, Bunin with his elegant joke, Anton Pavlovich with his unexpected remarks.
Moscow Art Theater group with A. Chekhov
and M. Gorky during the tour in Yalta. 1900
Museum of MAAT
and M. Gorky during the tour in Yalta. 1900
Museum of MAAT
and it does…
Something is bound to come out of this,
For the first time he writes a play specifically for the Art Theater and in the late 1900 there appear
Chekhov writes plays Three Sisters
and The Cherry Orchard
and The Cherry Orchard
The tour allowed Chekhov to see the Moscow Art Theater «in action», to feel its young energy and creative freedom. He saw talented artists and, among others, his «dear actress»
Olga Knipper on the stage.
Olga Knipper on the stage.
Chekhov's
Plays
Three sisters
Premier
Moscow, 31st of January 1901
Moscow, 31st of January 1901
However, Tolstoy wasn’t happy, as usual
»
L. Tolstoy:
O. Knipper:
M. Gorky:
«Your play is still bad
«
«
Everyone is happy; the reception has been great.
After all, you are our author, you must feel it, must understand that we are at home in your plays, playing with love!»
After all, you are our author, you must feel it, must understand that we are at home in your plays, playing with love!»
And Three Sisters is running — fantastically!
Better than Uncle Vanya.
It’s music, not acting»
Better than Uncle Vanya.
It’s music, not acting»
— TELEGRAM
— TELEGRAM
— TELEGRAM
— TELEGRAM
NEMIROVICH-DANCHENKO
TO CHEKHOV
TO CHEKHOV
After the play ended, the curtain calls turned into a real ovation. The audience demanded to telegraph to you.
The actors played exceptionally well,
especially the ladies.
The actors played exceptionally well,
especially the ladies.
Four Chekhov’s dramas became the basis of the Moscow Art Theater repertoire and the foundation for major discoveries in the field of director’s psychological theater.
Chekhov absolutely finds his theater and establishes himself as a major playwright.
He no longer thinks of not writing plays
He no longer thinks of not writing plays
the cherry orchard
In 1903, the Art Theater will receive the last gift from Chekhov.
We may just seem to exist,
but we actually don’t.
but we actually don’t.
Three Sisters
A scene from the performance Three Sisters. 1901
Museum of MAAT
Museum of MAAT
Gorky becomes a playwright: The Philistines and The Lower Depths
The premiere was a success. The Philistines became part of the repertoire of the Moscow Art Theater and other theaters around the country and...
an instrument of the revolutionary movement.
an instrument of the revolutionary movement.
gorky
playwright
The Philistines
Premiere
Moscow, 26th of March 1902
Moscow, 26th of March 1902
Doesn’t this remind you of anything?
During the tour in Yalta Gorky took a closer look at the theater and firmly decided to write a drama.
The plot of the second play began taking shape back in Yalta
The Lower Depths
In 1903 the play already hit the stages of European theaters and continued its triumphal march to the East. The pictures from the life of the lodging house got a particularly strong response in Japan.
Premiere
Moscow, 18th of December 1902
Moscow, 18th of December 1902
The Lower Depths made Gorky a star: his photos were sold everywhere, and his doubles were earning their living in the provinces.
— ТЕЛЕГРАММА
— TELEGRAM
— TELEGRAM
— TELEGRAM
— TELEGRAM
KNIPPER TO CHEKHOV
The house was groaning. It was almost the same as the first performance of The Seagull. The same triumph... The scenery is magnificent.
Our theater has grown again.
Our theater has grown again.
M. Gorky:
«
I — your Alyoshka — passed the preliminary test for the rank of a playwright with honor! (Beware, William Shakespeare!) Nemirovich-Danchenko swore by all that is holy that the play is a success. I believe him… You know, I was waiting for him for three days, worrying and being scared, and I behaved completely stupidly»
»
K. Stanislavski:
«Gorky once got carried away and told the plot of his would-be play. A lodging house, stuffiness, board beds, long boring winter. The people have run wild with terror, they have lost patience and hope and, having exhausted their patience, torment each other and philosophize
Alexei Maximovich Gorky. 1899
The actors of the Moscow Art Theatre
in the performance The Lower Depths. 1902
in the performance The Lower Depths. 1902
M. Gorky and the actors of Art Theatre
in performance The Philistines. 1902
in performance The Philistines. 1902
«There was a huge demonstration at the theater at The Philistines. In the theater already the policemen with drawn swords started sabering just anywhere. There was a fight.
The excitement in the city was enormous.
Workers armed with sticks began gathering from all the factories»
The excitement in the city was enormous.
Workers armed with sticks began gathering from all the factories»
Newspaper The Iskra
№35 from 15th of February 1903
№35 from 15th of February 1903
M. Gorky:
«
You know: I will write a cycle of dramas. This is a fact. <…> It’s going to be scary. I already have plans ready.
Too bad — I have two hands and one head»
Too bad — I have two hands and one head»
The plays by Chekhov and Gorky in the repertoire of the Moscow Art Theater became an important factor in the search for a new system of acting.
The old approach just did not work with the new dramaturgy.
The old approach just did not work with the new dramaturgy.
Stanislavski's system
The success of the tour and such significant additions to the repertoire finally allow the Moscow Art Theater to get on its feet and enabled Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko to believe in the future of their theater.
Famous
system
«I don't believe!»
He finds the answer and formulates it in the book The Actor’s Work on Himself, without which there would be no theater as we know it, and probably would be no many roles or actors, either.
The new drama did not have unequivocally good and bad characters, but each had a story which the authors only hinted at, prompting the actors to find ways of revealing the character, to get into his biography and psychology.
From 1900 to 1910 Stanislavski searches for an answer to the question: how an actor should play, so that the director and the audience would not have to speak
Stanislavski thinks, experiments, observes.
For example, he observes Feodor Chaliapin, who at the same time searches for new ways of existence of an opera artist on the stage and becomes a true genius of transformation.
Al Pacino
«I’m not from Hollywood. I’m from Stanislavski»
F. Chaliapin as The Miller
in the opera The Mermaid
SPb Museum of Theatre and Music
in the opera The Mermaid
SPb Museum of Theatre and Music
K. Stanislavski and A. Chekhov. 1898
Museum of MAAT
Museum of MAAT
F. Chaliapin as Mephistopheles
in the opera Faust
SPb Museum of Theatre and Music
in the opera Faust
SPb Museum of Theatre and Music
F. Chaliapin as Don Basilio
in the opera The Barber of Seville
SPb of Theatre and Music
in the opera The Barber of Seville
SPb of Theatre and Music
F. Chaliapin as Vladimir Galitsky
in the opera Prince Igor
SPb of Theatre and Music
in the opera Prince Igor
SPb of Theatre and Music
F. Chaliapin as Don Quixote
in the opera Don Quixote
SPb Museum of Theatre and Music
in the opera Don Quixote
SPb Museum of Theatre and Music
K. Stanislavski:
«
I wrote my "system" from Chaliapin»
It is clear that something must be done.
To marry?
To marry?
Chekhov + Knipper = ♡
That’s how it was, or maybe even better, we don’t know exactly. All we know is that the tour was over.
Parting again.
Parting again.
Chekhov
knipper
A little more than a year after the tour of Crimea
Olga Knipper became Anton Chekhov’s wife.
Olga Knipper became Anton Chekhov’s wife.
Those were typical long-distance relations. He is in Yalta, she is in Moscow. Hundreds of letters, and brief moments of meetings. Both were looking forward to the Crimean tour.
Yesterday, when I parted from you,
I looked long into the darkness and there was a lot in my soul. I cried, of course. I have experienced so much in this short time in your house …
Yesterday I was terrified to stay alone from everything that immediately came over me.
I kept thinking about you…
I looked long into the darkness and there was a lot in my soul. I cried, of course. I have experienced so much in this short time in your house …
Yesterday I was terrified to stay alone from everything that immediately came over me.
I kept thinking about you…
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
KNIPPER TO CHEKHOV
I keep thinking that the door will open and
you will come in.
But you won’t come in, you’re far away
from Yalta and from me now.
you will come in.
But you won’t come in, you’re far away
from Yalta and from me now.
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
CHEKHOV TO KNIPPER
My dear Olya, my darling!
Today I received a letter from you, the first one after your departure, I read it, then I read it again, and now I am writing to you, my actress.
Today I received a letter from you, the first one after your departure, I read it, then I read it again, and now I am writing to you, my actress.
…we'll celebrate an anniversary of our meeting. We’ll drink white wine No. 24, which is your favorite, right?
I’ll feed you on delicious lunches and
make coffee for a long time…
I’ll feed you on delicious lunches and
make coffee for a long time…
Well, now I will see you soon.
You know, I recently saw our meeting
in a dream, and I’m sure it will be the same in reality.
You know, I recently saw our meeting
in a dream, and I’m sure it will be the same in reality.
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
KNIPPER TO CHEKHOV
I’ve brought you some perfume from abroad,
very good one. Come and get it. I have already begun waiting for you, counting the days and hours.
It’s all right that you are in love with someone else and have already been untrue to me,
I will forgive you, just come, please.
Do you hear me, my doggie?
I love you, you know that.
It’s already hard for me to live without you.
very good one. Come and get it. I have already begun waiting for you, counting the days and hours.
It’s all right that you are in love with someone else and have already been untrue to me,
I will forgive you, just come, please.
Do you hear me, my doggie?
I love you, you know that.
It’s already hard for me to live without you.
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
— ONE OF THE 226 LETTERS
CHEKHOV TO KNIPPER
…Yalta people stay with me for a long time,
so every time I lose my heart and start swearing to go away again or marry,
so that my wife should turn the guests out.
Let me make you an offer.
so every time I lose my heart and start swearing to go away again or marry,
so that my wife should turn the guests out.
Let me make you an offer.
A. Chekhov:
«
Marrying is only interesting if it is for love. The most important screw in married life is love, sexual attraction, one flesh, everything else is unreliable and boring»
FILM
Another consequence of the spring of the Art Theatre in the Crimea in 1900 is the documentary film "ART YALTA. 1900", where all the events take place on a smartphone screen.
We invite you to peek into the phone screen of the main character and meet the living and very real Chekhov.
We invite you to peek into the phone screen of the main character and meet the living and very real Chekhov.
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