The photo was taken by the wife of Tikhon Khrennikov, Clara, in November 1974 on the way from Rome to Siena. The picture shows members of the Soviet Union delegation who came to Italy for the congress.
The group of Soviet public figures traveled from Rome to Siena by car. On the way, they stopped in small picturesque towns and studied the sights. Clara Khrennikova took the role of a photojournalist. She was not a professional photographer, but she did a pretty good job with an amateur camera.
The group of Soviet intellectuals was headed by Nina Popova, a well-known Soviet party and government leader. In the photo she is in the center, wearing a black coat. Popova was the chairman of the Soviet Women’s Committee and headed the Union of Soviet Societies for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. Khrennikov (on the right, wearing a hat) was a member of the group as the head of the Union of Composers of the USSR.
At such congresses, important issues of culture and art in the international aspect were discussed, new acquaintances were made and the problems of competitions and festivals were solved. The result of one of these congresses was an internship for a group of young Soviet singers at La Scala, the famous opera house in Milan.
Many things connected Khrennikov with Italy. He often went on tour to Italy, and directors staged his works in Italian theaters. There was the action of the play “Much Ado About Nothing”, to which he wrote music in 1936, and later on its basis he created the ballet “Love for Love” and the comic opera “Much Ado About Hearts”. In 1976, the composer was elected as an academician of the Tiberian Academy, and in 1984 — the Academy of Santa Cecilia.
Khrennikov’s relationship with Italian cultural figures continued for many years. For many years the musician was on friendly terms with conductor Pietro Argento and composer Nino Rota, and several times was an honorary member of the jury of the Mozartini violin and pianist competition.
The musician loved this sunny, hospitable country and, at the slightest opportunity, traveled around it with pleasure.
The group of Soviet public figures traveled from Rome to Siena by car. On the way, they stopped in small picturesque towns and studied the sights. Clara Khrennikova took the role of a photojournalist. She was not a professional photographer, but she did a pretty good job with an amateur camera.
The group of Soviet intellectuals was headed by Nina Popova, a well-known Soviet party and government leader. In the photo she is in the center, wearing a black coat. Popova was the chairman of the Soviet Women’s Committee and headed the Union of Soviet Societies for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. Khrennikov (on the right, wearing a hat) was a member of the group as the head of the Union of Composers of the USSR.
At such congresses, important issues of culture and art in the international aspect were discussed, new acquaintances were made and the problems of competitions and festivals were solved. The result of one of these congresses was an internship for a group of young Soviet singers at La Scala, the famous opera house in Milan.
Many things connected Khrennikov with Italy. He often went on tour to Italy, and directors staged his works in Italian theaters. There was the action of the play “Much Ado About Nothing”, to which he wrote music in 1936, and later on its basis he created the ballet “Love for Love” and the comic opera “Much Ado About Hearts”. In 1976, the composer was elected as an academician of the Tiberian Academy, and in 1984 — the Academy of Santa Cecilia.
Khrennikov’s relationship with Italian cultural figures continued for many years. For many years the musician was on friendly terms with conductor Pietro Argento and composer Nino Rota, and several times was an honorary member of the jury of the Mozartini violin and pianist competition.
The musician loved this sunny, hospitable country and, at the slightest opportunity, traveled around it with pleasure.
