Some of the objects in Nikolai Golovanov’s collection are closely associated with Italy and thus are of particular interest. The conductor visited this country numerous times and, like many writers, poets, composers, and musicians before him, was inspired by its culture and history. The memorial living room of the Nikolai Golovanov Apartment Museum presents two marble sculptural portraits of the poet Dante and his beloved Beatrice.
Dante Alighieri is considered one of the most famous Italian poets who influenced the entire literary world of Western Europe. Dante was dubbed the “Father of the Italian Language.” His legendary work “Divine Comedy”, originally called “Comedìa” and later christened “Divina” by another Italian poet Giovanni Boccaccio, expressed the political, philosophical, religious and mystical experience of the Late Middle Ages in its entirety. The “Divine Comedy” is one of the most significant works of world literature. The ideas of the afterlife, eternal suffering and torment, and the way hell and paradise are envisioned are largely comprised of the images described by the genius Florentine poet.
The love story of Dante and Beatrice is just as famous as the poet himself. When he was a very young boy, he met the neighbor’s daughter Beatrice Portinari, which kindled his sincere feelings for her. The second meeting took place only nine years later when Beatrice was already married. Beatrice would die soon after at the age of 24, and Dante would enter into a traditional and socially approved marriage of convenience. However, Beatrice stayed “the mistress of his thoughts” throughout his life and symbolized the morally elevating feeling of true unearthly love. The image of Dante and Beatrice will become one of the couples symbolizing true love in European culture, along with Romeo and Juliet, Petrarch and Laura, Tristan and Isolde.
Like Dante, Nikolai Semyonovich Golovanov only loved one woman — his wife Antonina Vasilyevna Nezhdanova, an outstanding singer and performer in the Bolshoi Theater. Despite their big age difference, Nikolai Semyonovich and Antonina Vasilyevna had a long and happy marriage.
Dante Alighieri is considered one of the most famous Italian poets who influenced the entire literary world of Western Europe. Dante was dubbed the “Father of the Italian Language.” His legendary work “Divine Comedy”, originally called “Comedìa” and later christened “Divina” by another Italian poet Giovanni Boccaccio, expressed the political, philosophical, religious and mystical experience of the Late Middle Ages in its entirety. The “Divine Comedy” is one of the most significant works of world literature. The ideas of the afterlife, eternal suffering and torment, and the way hell and paradise are envisioned are largely comprised of the images described by the genius Florentine poet.
The love story of Dante and Beatrice is just as famous as the poet himself. When he was a very young boy, he met the neighbor’s daughter Beatrice Portinari, which kindled his sincere feelings for her. The second meeting took place only nine years later when Beatrice was already married. Beatrice would die soon after at the age of 24, and Dante would enter into a traditional and socially approved marriage of convenience. However, Beatrice stayed “the mistress of his thoughts” throughout his life and symbolized the morally elevating feeling of true unearthly love. The image of Dante and Beatrice will become one of the couples symbolizing true love in European culture, along with Romeo and Juliet, Petrarch and Laura, Tristan and Isolde.
Like Dante, Nikolai Semyonovich Golovanov only loved one woman — his wife Antonina Vasilyevna Nezhdanova, an outstanding singer and performer in the Bolshoi Theater. Despite their big age difference, Nikolai Semyonovich and Antonina Vasilyevna had a long and happy marriage.
