

Within the frames of the Festival “Energy of Discoveries” Radio Orpheus and PJSC UNIPRO carried out painstaking work aimed at finding and restoration of Leonid Polovinkin’s unknown works. A CD was recorded by Symphony Orchestra of Radio Orpheus conducted by Honored Artist of Russia Sergei Kondrashev. Given unconditional historical and cultural value of the musical material, the organizers made a decision not to restrict themselves with the CD. The stage implementation of Leonid Polovinkin’s music was given the title “The Ship Called Happiness”.
The authors of the idea referred to, probably, one of the happiest periods in the composer’s life. In 1930s he worked at the Moscow Children’s Theatre headed by Natalia Sats. They fell head over heels in love. The performance is set on board of the ship “Cape Arkona” on its long way from Hamburg to Argentina. The lovers, famous composer and popular director, are heading to the major international festival, where they are expected to stage two operas at the theatre Colon. It is the time of heady freedom, both personal and creative, when the political intrigues and restrictions imposed by the Soviet system are left behind. There is only the ocean, the world of his own fantasies around and the beloved woman nearby! Success awaited them in Argentina, but what awaited them back at home? She was arrested as the wife of the enemy of the people.....18 years of imprisonment and exiles. He was struck out not of the profession only, he was struck out of life - not noticed, not invited, not published, not performed. They never met again.
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