The quiz is so simple as to seem to involve some kind of trick.
Igor Stravinsky is the composer of Le Sacre du Printemps, Apollon Musagète, The Firebird etc.
Why “le sacre”? This is an idiomatic matter: in French one invariably speaks of “le scare des rois/ le sacre de l’empereur/ le sacre d’un évêque” etc. See V. Hugo, Colette, among others.
A. Bouazza
From: Vladimir Nabokov Forum [mailto:NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU] On Behalf Of NABOKV-L
Sent: maandag 18 juni 2012 18:33
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Subject: [NABOKV-L] Quiz! Firebird -- Apollo
Carolyn Kunin sends the following reference to various works, some of which VN alludes to in his fiction:
A challenge to the list (this is a quiz, and there will be a prize, or surprise*) -
Identify the person responsible for the existence of the following important, nay defining pieces of 20th century music:
The Firebird Petrushka Pulcinello Les noces Apollo ВеÑна ÑвÑщеннаÑ**
* treat, or trick?
** Le sacre du printemps (btw - does anyone know - I don't, but will try to find out - why it isn't Les sacres du printemps?
P.S. Not strictly Nabokovian, perhaps, but those of us who lived through the bad old years will find this evidence of Moscovian wedding joy more than spas (fun)
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