Theater actors, singers, and musicians at the court of Anna Ioannovna according to the archives of St. Catherine’s Catholic church in St. Petersburg

Abstract

The relevance of this study stems from the lack of biographical information about foreign musicians, singers, and actors in Russia during the reign of Anna Ioannovna. The article aims to clarify the personal data of these artists, as well as to reconstruct their social relationships, based on the registers of the Catholic Church in St. Petersburg. The theoretical basis of this study is Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie’s concept of microhistory, which emphasizes the importance of social connections. This article provides new insights into the famous theatrical families of Europe, such as the Madonis violinists, the Sacci comedians, the Giorgi opera singers, the Rinaldi ballet dancers, and others. The author also examines certain aspects of the everyday behavior and “mental makeup” of these artists. The article suggests that the theatrical environment contributed to the sexual liberation of those who attended, leading not only to frequent marriages between stage partners, but also to the spread of extramarital affairs. The author concludes that OberHofmarshal Reinhold Gustav von Löwenwolde was particularly close to the artistic community. Löwenwolde’s interactions with Italian artists went far beyond business and theatre