“Hidden” Anecdote: About the “Historical Episode” by D. I. Kharms

Abstract

Daniil Kharms created the short story “Historical episode” in 1939 inspired by the performance of the opera “Ivan Susanin”. Deep and profound critical reflection on a particular cultural event is concealed behind humor and playful attitude towards Russia’s past. The libretto of the monarchist opera by M. I. Glinka had to be rewrit-ten in accordance with the Stalinist concept of patriotism. At the same time, “A Life for the Tsar” was chosen not only to create an image of “the classic Soviet opera”. The ultimate goal of this revised and updated version was to influence international relations, mainly to serve as the instrument of propaganda when it came to Russian-Polish ones. The reminder of the victory over the Poles in the Time of Troubles served the majority of the Soviet people as the distraction from the memory of from the defeat of Stalin in the Warsaw campaign of 1919. Kharms, being a keen admirer of musical culture, viewed the new production as a historical anecdote. His rejection and non-acceptance of the opera is reflected in the mocking attitude towards the character of Ivan Susanin.