2022 The University of Manchester UK
Within this historical context, the superficially nonsensical nature of fairytales offered a guise within which their innate encouragement of imagination & creativity could sneak beneath the Soviet radar to mentally liberate millions. Such freedom of thought represents a radical departure from Soviet ideology, as readers could be transported to realms of limitless individuality & freedom within the safety & privacy of their own imagination. As described by Russian musician Kate NV, the “deep thought behind superficial foolishness” of these fairytales also reflects their potential as vehicles for the encoded preservation of personal & cultural truths, even within such a regime.
The score for ‘Снежная Королева’ echoes the distinct visual language of Soviet-era fairytale books & can be read as such, inviting the viewer to physically engage with the imagined space notated within.
[violin, violin 2, viola, cello, contrabass, interactive score]