Soviet Soviet Theater and Performing Arts

[Ed_Haynes]

Nice thread, guys, many thanks. A pleasant change-of-pace from the "medals for killing fascists" threads (however pleasant that may be!).

[Gerd Becker]

Nice thread, guys, many thanks. A pleasant change-of-pace from the "medals for killing fascists" threads (however pleasant that may be!).

Okay okay, i won?t bore you anymore with more "Dead Hitlerites", if thats such a pain for you guys

[Ed_Haynes]

Okay okay, i won?t bore you anymore with more "Dead Hitlerites", if thats such a pain for you guys

Oh, no, Gerd, those are great fun. But this is a pleasant change of pace and a good reminder that there's more to Soviet phaleristics.

[Gerd Becker]

Oh, no, Gerd, those are great fun. But this is a pleasant change of pace and a good reminder that there's more to Soviet phaleristics.

I agree, Ed. There is so much more and some of the fields, like Labor-Awards for example or some of the most beautiful badges, ever awarded. I wish, i had unlimited funds and i know, soviet badges would be one of the sidelines of my collection. ONE of them only, of course

[Paul L Murphy]

Here is a badge from the Belorussian Ballet from the mid 1980's.

This came in a group of documents and photos that I recently purchased to a ballerina in the Bolshoi Theatre who was an Honoured Artist of Russia and got the Order of the Red Star for her services in the "Concert Front" during the war. Once I have scanned and scaled down some of the certificates etc. I will post them here.

[Paul L Murphy]

The next few certificates all belong to this young lady, Susanna Zvyagina who was an Honoured Artist of Russia and was born in July 1918. She was awarded the Order of the Red Star for her service on the "concert front" as a ballerina with the Bolshoi Theatre during the war.

One of these photos shows her in 1945 wearing her Red Star, the other is taken a few years later and shows her in her stage dress for one of her roles.

Edited November 3, 2006 by Paul L Murphy

[Paul L Murphy]

First up, a Gramata from the Bolshoi Theatre from March 1945. This shows the cover and the inside design.

[Paul L Murphy]

Next up, an early Komsomol certificate to her for her performance at a youth festival. This has the earlier form of Komsomol badge in the design and is pretty scarce.

[Paul L Murphy]

A certificate for her performance on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Red Army. This is a huge document and the scan does not do it justice.

[Paul L Murphy]

A certificate for excellent work in the 1951-52 season at the Bolshoi. This was also the 175th anniversary of the Bolshoi so she would have received the badge shown in earlier posts.

[Paul L Murphy]

A gramata from 1956 for merit as an artistic performer. At this time she was a soloist ballerina and in October 1956 she performed in Swan Lake in London when the Bolshoi toured the UK that year.

[Paul L Murphy]

Finally a certificate from 1985 for her service during the war.

I have other items to her but these are the nicest pieces.

[Paul L Murphy]

And one final photo of the lady herself. She has the beauty and grace that you can only find in a Russian ballerina. In short, she is gorgeous and after giving good service to her country, and endless pleasure to those who watched her perform over the years, I hope she rests in peace.

[Ed_Haynes]

Nice ones, thanks, Paul!

[Paul L Murphy]

Moving away from the Bolshoi for a slight change of direction, in fact about 500 metres away ! This is the badge awarded for 25 years working in the State Kremlin Palace Hall. This was the hall where the KPSS held many of their conventions. Now it is used as a concert hall and the Kremlin Ballet perform here regularly, as do the Bolshoi from time to time.

This version is a nice heavy brass badge.

[Chuck In Oregon]

Paul, that is a wonderful group. Please consider posting the rest of her/your things. What a good story and what a beauty she was, too.

I had the pleasure of seeing Nino Ananiashvili dance a couple of years ago, my first exposure to ballet. Might as well start with the best. There's no way to describe it. She made the rest of the cast looking like oafs in comparison, even though I'm sure they were talented dancers too.

I also like your KDC badge. Very interesting.

I'm sure glad we started this thread. I am enjoying it immensely.

Chuck

[Paul L Murphy]

Here is another KDC badge, this time for 20 years service. It is made from aluminium and overall is not nearly as nice as the 25 year badge.

[Paul L Murphy]

Now back to my favourite place in Moscow, the Bolshoi Theatre. First up two badges whose use is unknown. I presume they are some type of commemorative badge but have not been able to find out yet their exact purpose.

[Paul L Murphy]

Next up is a lapel badge to commemorate the Bolshoi Theatre tour of Japan in 1957. A lovely little badge.

[Paul L Murphy]

An finally for today, a badge for which I was searching for ages. This is the badge for 15 years service in the Bolshoi Theatre. It is a nice silver badge, this piece is numbered 227, which should place it in the 1950's.

[Christian Zulus]

"Concert Front" in the GPW

Dear Paul,

some postings ago in this thread you mentioned the "concert front". There had been also some (later) world famous pianists - i.e.: Gilels, Richter, etc. - doing their artistic duty at this "front". Shostakovich (HSL, several Stalin-Prizes, etc., etc.) composed his 7th symphony for Leningrad ...

Do you have some further informations about the Soviet "concert front" in the GPW ?

Does anyone have exact listings which awards the famous artists got in their life?

Best regards

Christian

P.S.: I earn my bucks in the classical music business http://www.zulusrecords.com

[Paul L Murphy]

Hi Christian,

The only information I have about the Concert Front is that basically it was organised by the Ministry of Culture to ensure that the officers and troops were properly entertained. The Bolshoi Theatre was responsible for organising it and the various theatres and conservatoires had to contribute.

Unfortunately I do not have any details of the awards given to members but Zvyagina received the Red Star and the Medal for Military Service.

Best regards,

Paul

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Paul,

many thanks for the further informations .

Was the genuine name "concert front" (translated from the Russian)?

The fact, that you got for dancing, singing or playing the piano during the GPW real military awards, shows the high ranking of culture in the Soviet Union of the 1940s - specially in comparison to Nazi-Germany, where culture had been reserved to the "elite".

Best regards

Christian

[Paul L Murphy]

The exact Russian wording (sorry I do not know how to type in Cyrillic on a non Russian keyboard) is Frontovuich Koncertnuich Brigad.

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Paul,

many thanks .

Literally translated I assume it means:

"Brigade for Concerts at the Front"

Best regards

Christian

The exact Russian wording (sorry I do not know how to type in Cyrillic on a non Russian keyboard) is Frontovuich Koncertnuich Brigad.