French Literature Reviews - 2026
Anastasiia Syreishchikova-Horn, Hector Berlioz in Russia. Myths and Realities
Art and Visual Culture
Anastasiia Syreishchikova-Horn
Hector Berlioz in Russia. Myths and Realities
Paris : Classiques Garnier, series « Comparative Perspectives », n° 156, 2026.
Drawing on a corpus of previously unpublished Russian sources, this thoroughly researched study critically examines the legend of Berlioz's triumph in Russia during his two concert tours. It aims to illuminate the complexity of Franco-Russian artistic exchanges in the 19th century, navigating between myth and historical reality.
Also available in a hardcover edition — EAN 9782406190837 — for 89 euros
This scholarly study investigates the historical reception of the famous French composer in Russia, moving past established legends to explore how his music was actually received during his two nineteenth-century concert tours. By drawing upon a corpus of previously unpublished Russian archival sources, the author offers a nuanced reevaluation of transnational cultural diplomacy and artistic interaction between France and Russia during the romantic era. The work contributes significantly to our understanding of how musical reputations were constructed, contested, and romanticized across national borders in the nineteenth century.
Musicologists, historians of nineteenth-century culture, and researchers interested in Franco-Russian artistic relations will find this volume a valuable resource for examining the complexities of cross-cultural reception. It provides essential context for anyone seeking to understand the mechanics of nineteenth-century touring culture and the dissemination of Western European art music in the Russian Empire. The book is published by Classiques Garnier in the Comparative Perspectives series, making it an important addition to academic libraries supporting advanced research in music history and comparative literature.