Activities of the Don Cossack Choir and the Formation of Stereotypes of Pseudo-Russianness Among Foreign Listeners

Abstract

The article discusses the stereotypical representation of Russian culture abroad. For almost the entire 20th century (first due to limited technical capabilities, and then under the conditions of the “Iron Curtain”), the Western public did not have the opportunity to become properly acquainted with authentic Russian culture and its traditions. For this reason, today’s image of Russia in the Western mass consciousness is largely formed by the emigrants who left the country following the 1917 revolution. Paradoxically, but also quite naturally, the alternative point of view instilled by the emigrants in the minds of foreigners led to a kind of separate historical branch of the development of Russian culture outside Russia. Among such refugees was Sergei Zharov, a recent graduate of the Moscow Synodal School (who later became better known in the West as “Serge Jaroff”). A gifted musician and talented organiser, he created a group of exiles that would, without exaggeration, become one of the most famous “Russian” choirs abroad. One of the prominent members of this choir, who later made a brilliant solo career, was Ivan Rebroff (whose real name was Hans-Rolf Rippert). The article examines the activities of the Don Cossack Choir and Ivan Rebrov. An attempt is also made to analyse the genesis of the repertoire of the above-mentioned artists – in particular, the song “Kalinka”, which has become known as a “Russian folk song” in the mass consciousness. 

Keywords: mass consciousness, stereotypes, Don Cossack Choir, emigrants, Serge Jaroff, Ivan Rebroff, Sol Hurok, Deutsche Grammophon, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Dmitry Agrenev-Slavyansky, Ivan Larionov, Kalinka, Na sdorowje