On September 20th of this year, a solo performance by Elena Zakharova titled “The Female Destiny in the Works of the Classics” took place on the stage of the Russian House. It must be said that the actress is loved and well-known in Brussels. Fans of her talent eagerly awaited the performance.
Elena opened it with the verses of the great Avar poet Rasul Gamzatov, whose 100th anniversary was celebrated in September. The audience fell silent. During the poem “Mama,” the actress’s voice broke, and tears welled up in her eyes, not only for the actress but also for some members of the audience.
Quietly sighing, grieving about something,
And, hiding a tear in the clear light of day:
“Don’t worry,” I tell my mother,
“Everything is fine, dear, with me.”
Then followed one character after another: Katerina from “The Storm” and Lydia from Ostrovsky’s “Crazy Money.” Each monologue was lived by Zakharova, briefly transforming into her heroines.
“Refuse, there’s still time. It must be that your love isn’t very strong on your part if you’re so easily rejecting me,” she says sharply and decisively.
After the tragic monologues from “Romeo and Juliet” and the lyrical verses of Marina Tsvetaeva, the cunning Glafira from Ostrovsky’s “Wolves and Sheep” suddenly appears. And immediately, the joke about the sly red fox face comes to mind. Lips involuntarily stretch into a smile. It’s wonderfully performed!
And next comes “Mashenka” by V. Nabokov. A memory of a past love: initially spring-like and joyful, and in the end, autumnal and melancholic.
Ahmatova sounds torn:
“Some idler wrote down,
That love exists on earth.”
Carmen, performed by Zakharova, is not just a dance; it’s a silent recitation of verses through movements.
And once again, there are tragic notes in Nina’s monologue from Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull.”
Elena leaves the stage, but her voice remains. The audience falls silent. It seems that the spectators don’t even breathe, afraid to disturb this moment.
And then the last words are spoken, and Mata Hari appears on stage, bringing the performance to a close.
And after that… after that, Elena answered the audience’s questions, first from the stage, and then in the charming courtyard of our Center. She was sweet, welcoming, and smiling.
In the photo are the regular attendees of the literary salon.
“I came to see Elena and dreamed of hearing my beloved Tsvetaeva. Can you imagine my joy when ‘I remember the night at the end of November!’ was performed? Thank you for organizing such a beautiful concert!” – one of the spectators thanks after the performance.
“I haven’t heard Gamzatov for so long,” another spectator joins in. “You can’t even imagine what he meant to our generation!”
“And I was just passing by,” unexpectedly declares a third person. “I see people coming in, speaking in Russian. Well, I decided to step in. That’s what it means to be in the right place at the right time!”
