UDC 7.03
DOI: 10.36871/hon.202502106
Authors
Marianna V. Timofeeva,
Russian Institute of Theater Arts — GITIS, Moscow, Russian Federation
Abstract
This article examines the role of impresario Sol Hurok in organising and conducting the tour of the Moscow Art Academic Theatre of the USSR named after M. Gorky to the United States in the 1965/66 season. The work analyses not only Solomon Izrailevich Hurok’s professional activities as an influential figure in the field of international cultural exchange, but also his personal contribution to the development of Soviet-American cultural relations during the Cold War. Hurok’s cooperation with the Moscow Art Theatre is studied in detail, from planning and selection of repertoire to the specifics of realising a major tour. The study also touches on the significance of the Moscow Art Theatre tour for American culture and its influence on the American audience’s perception of the Soviet theatre school. Based on the archival materials of the Moscow Art Theatre, the article makes a valuable contribution to the historical study of the cultural dialogue between the USSR and the United States, shedding light on the mechanisms of its implementation and the role of individuals in this process. The analysis of archival documents allows to recreate the preparation and execution of the Moscow Art Theatre tour and to reveal its significance for both countries.
Keywords
impresario, Sol Hurok, Moscow Art Theatre, tour, cultural exchange
