A large-scale exhibition ‘The Five Temptations of Johann Faust’ opened in the framework of the international festival ‘Diaghilev. P.S.’ The exhibition is structured according to the pro et contra principle. It develops as a continuous discussion, in which the viewer is inevitably drawn in. Classical music-theatrical themes argue over the soul of Faust: Gounod's ‘Faust’ with Boito's opera ‘Mephistopheles’, Berlioz' oratorio ‘The Condemnation of Faust’ with Liszt's ‘Faust Symphony’. The opuses of the 19th century are in dialogue with Alfred Schnittke's ‘Historia von D. Johann Faust’ — the genius of the 20th century.
Old masters and academic art enter into a dialogue with contemporary artists. Exhibits from the collections of the St. Petersburg Museum of Theatre and Music Art, the State Hermitage Museum, the Russian Museum, the Museum of the History of Religion, the Pavlovsk State Museum-Reserve, the Museum of the Academy of Arts, the Schnittke Moscow State Music Institute, and the Belgorod State Art Museum are complimented with the works of contemporary artists including Alexander Dashevskiy, Egor Kraft, Mayana Nasybullova, Nestor Engelke, Piotr Dyakov and Rostan Tavasiev.
The exhibition is on view at the Sheremetev Palace — Museum of Music (St. Petersburg, 34 Fontanka Emb.) from November 10, 2021 to June 26, 2022.
