This article deals with Liberal Aesthetics Society — one of the cultural centers of pre-revolutionary Moscow of utmost importance, which has never been a subject of a separate research. Broad spectrum of philosophical and aesthetic topics was on the agenda of the Society, being actively discussed by the metropolitan intellectual elite in four main areas — literature, visual arts, theatre and music. The core of the club consisted of poets- symbolists, closely related to Bryusov. Frequent visitors of the meetings included Bely, Ellis (Kobynsky), Baltrusaitis, S. Soloviev, Balmont, Ivanov, Hodasevich among others. There was no stylistic unity among guests however. Thanks to the Society Moscow came to know works by A. N. Tolstoy. It was Bryusov’s initiative that made possible to organize an evening dedicated to Severyanin in December 1912 — first public recognition of him, who earlier had been just a prime target for a stinging criticism. Also works by some authors completely unknown at that time, like Tsvetaeva and Mayakovsky, could be heard in the salon.
“Blue Rose” art group, including Larionov and Goncharova, claimed certain ideological kinship with symbolists. Larionov and D. Burlyuk first met each other on one of the club gatherings. “Liberal Aesthetics” club hosted infamous one-day exhibition by Goncharova that sparked public outcry.
Many musicians, Moscow Conservatoire professors, performers, composers, critics were pleased to be part of gatherings. Active members included Scriabin, Taneev, Grechaninov, Satz, Medtner brothers, Gedike, Kastalsky, Vasilenko, Goldenweiser, Chaliapin, Hartmann, the Gnessins, Yavorsky, Kuper, Sabaneev, Koussevitsky. Concerts were organized by Igumnov, Koreshchenko, Kochetov, Deisha-Sionitskaya. “Liberal Aesthetics” welcomed Debussy, Matisse, Marinetti and performed music by Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Medtner, Stravinsky, Steinberg, Yavorsky, Rebikov, Katuar as well as many others.
This publication is based upon archival collections as well as memoirs and letters of those who took part in society meetings.
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