VERA KOMISSAR\u017dEVSKAJA MEETS ELEONORA DUSE.
\nThe \u2018Joan of Arc\u2019 of the Russian scene and the \u2018Divina\u2019 of Italian theatre<\/p>\n
Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice
\n( proposed for the period of 2-8 March 2015 )<\/p>\n
Organisers:<\/p>\n
Maria Ida Biggi
\nUniversit\u00e0 Ca\u2019 Foscari di Venezia and Director of the \u201cCentro Studi per la Ricerca documentale sul Teatro e il Melodramma europeo\u201d (Study Centre for Documentary Research into European Theatre and Opera), Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Venice.<\/p>\n
Donatella Gavrilovich
\nUniversit\u00e0 degli Studi di Roma \u201cTor Vergata\u201d and Director of the publishing series \u201cArti dello Spettacolo\/Performing Arts\u201d.<\/p>\n
The 150th birth anniversary of the Russian actress Vera F\u00ebdorovna Komissar\u017eevskaja (27 October (8 November) 1864 \u2013 10 (23) February 1910) will be celebrated by organizing an international conference to elaborate and deepen the research upon this important figure of the Russian theatre of the turn of the 20th Century.<\/p>\n
Her constant research into new forms of expression – which brought great achievements in acting and in stage directing \u2013 her particular technique of interiority in the creation of her roles, her social and political engagement, her modern activity as founder, manager and artistic director of her own theatre in Saint Petersburg, her opposition to Stanislavskij\u2019s monopoly and her influence on actors such as Vachtangov and Michail \u010cechov are only a few examples of research topics that deserve further investigation.<\/p>\n
Famously called the \u2018Joan of Arc\u2019 of the Russian theatre scene, Komissar\u017eevskaja is renowned in the western world simply as the \u2018little Duse\u2019 since she has been only superficially compared to the Italian actress in a very reductive manner. The aim of the conference is to further explore the two actresses in relation to their art, technique and influence on the world stage.<\/p>\n
The two met during Eleonora Duse\u2019s tour in Russia (2-31 December 1896): Komissar\u017eevskaja first saw her on stage at the Aleksandrinskij Theatre of Saint Petersburg, while attending the staging of Alexandre Dumas\u2019 La dame aux camellias and Sudermann\u2019s Heimat (Magda), and later met the Italian actress in person.<\/p>\n
In this perspective, we eagerly invite interdisciplinary contributions on the following research themes:<\/p>\n
\u2022 The theatrical, social and political activities of Vera Komissar\u017eevskaja;
\n\u2022 Vera Komissar\u017eevskaja\u2019s \u2018theatre of interiority\u2019;
\n\u2022 The relations of Vera Komissar\u017eevskaja with theatre directors of her time (Arbatov, Karpov, Mejerchol\u2019d, Stanislavskij etc.);
\n\u2022 Vera Komissar\u017eevskaja\u2019s research of new forms of artistic expression and her influence on Russian Soviet actors of her time (Vachtangov and Michail \u010cechov);
\n\u2022 Relations to authors such as Anton \u010cechov, Gor\u2019kij, the young playwrights of the Znanie company and the relative stage productions;
\n\u2022 Vera Komissar\u017eevskaja\u2019s collaboration with Symbolist poets and artists and the creation of productions based on her artistic and directorial concept;
\n\u2022 The importance of music, timing and rhythm in Vera Komissar\u017eevskaja\u2019s acting;
\n\u2022 Vera Komissar\u017eevskaja\u2019s tour in the United States of America;
\n\u2022 The American and Russian critics on Eleonora Duse;
\n\u2022 The influence of Eleonora Duse on Russian theatre.<\/p>\n
The comparison between Vera Komissar\u017eevskaja and Eleonora Duse is the central and important theme for the main discussion of these study days:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Repertoires and expressive forms;
\n\u2022 Theatre enterprises and artistic directions;
\n\u2022 Social and political commitments;
\n\u2022 Hysteria and mysticism.<\/p>\n
The conference will be held in Italian, English and French.
\nWe kindly ask that you submit an abstract of no more than 300 words (in Italian, English or French) and brief curriculum vitae of about 200 words to teatromelodramma@cini.it by September 30th, 2014.<\/p>\n
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