"It's
Good Here!"
Sofia Khentova - 'It's Good Here'
St Petersburg 1999, 44pp.
(published in Russian, 1000 copies)
N. Papworth
For a number of years now the biographical oeuvre of this, by far the
most prolific of all writers on Shostakovich, has perceptibly changed
in character, tending toward the informal, more personal approach. The
most obvious example in recent times emanates from a three-part tome,
Surprising Shostakovich (featuring the Thirteenth Symphony, Women in the
Life of Shostakovich and Shostakovich and his Favourite Sport) published
in Russian in 1993.
Now comes a work with many more 'surprises' of is own- It's good here!
The book focuses its attention on the periods Shostakovich spent in his
family's country retreats - particularly at Repino and Komarovo, outside
Leningrad. The story begins in 1940 and concludes in the final year of
Shostakovich's life.
Khentova centres her attention on daily life - the composser at work and
at play. She traces, with typical meticulousness, the numerous compositions
begun or concluded "out of town", and contrasts with punctilious
relief Shostakovich's rigorous studiousness alongside purely recreational
activities such as swimming, tennis, football and picnics; taking in sea
and forest air during long and regular sorties alone, with family members
or with friends and colleagues. Such is the context of a wonderfully informal
photograph taken with Mravinsky (indeed many of Khentova's snapshots of
the composer appear here for the first time: did you know - Shostakovich
floated!)
The most disappointing aspect of the book is its size - a mere 41 pages
including the introduction - and the rather mediocre print quality. Adopting
more of a 'booklet look' the paper is rough and the photographic reproductions
sometimes quite awful. It appears that in the new 'market economy' of
Russian publishing, means are simply not available at an affordable price,
at least to writers like Professor Khentova. (It should be remembered
that in former (Soviet) times the author paid little, or nothing, for
the privilege of having his or her book published. In return, of course,
the writer received little in the way of dues from the State...)
Publishing conditions apart, Shostakovich followers should decry the status
quo regarding Khentova's works - in that not a single article of hers,
let alone a book, has ever been published entirely in a translated language
other than German [aside humble efforts conceived to fit within the pages
of the DSCH Journal - Ed.] This is particularly disappointing given that
her recent works bring within easy reach of the musical-loving fraternity
a lifetime's knowledge and passion for her favoured musician.
