Vladimir Nabokov

From high atop the beautiful town of Siverskaya  in the lovely St. Peterburg oblast, it's time once again for Sadko's World of Music. The role of Sadko today is being played by James Mason . The role of the Bobbsie Twins is being played by Shelly Winters and Suzanne Summers . The role of Ken Moss is being played by Stanley Kubrick.  In the third half of the program, the role of Lenny the Listener will  be played by Thomas Pynchon.  Our featured great Russian writer today is
Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov  22 April 1899 – 2 July 1977 He  was a Russian-born novelist. Nabokov's first nine novels were in Russian. He then rose to international prominence as a writer of English prose. He also made serious contributions as a lepidopterist and chess composer.
Nabokov's Lolita (1955) is his most famous novel, and often considered his finest work in English. It exhibits the love of intricate word play and synesthetic detail that characterized all his works Pale Fire (1962) and his memoir, Speak, Memory.  He was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction seven times, but never won it.

Artists named Vladimir
Vladimir Ashkenazy : Chopin, Scherzo no. 4, op. 54. Nocturne, op. 62, no. 1; Debussy, L'isle joyeuse;  Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit. London, 1965.
Vladimir Horowitz in his first recordings of Beethoven Pathétique sonata Debussy Three preludes. Chopin Two études [and] Scherzo no. 1, in B minor. Columbia, [1964]   Vladimir Horowitz, piano.
The Sound of Vladimir Horowitz Columbia [1963]  Scenes from childhood, op. 15. Toccata, op. 7. By Schumann.--Sonatas, L. 430, 483, and 209, by D. Scarlatti. --Impromptu, op. 90, no. 3, by Schubert.--Poem, op. 32, no. 1. Étude, op. 2, no. 1. Étude, op. 8, no. 12. By Scriabin.  Vladimir Horowitz, piano. 
Music for the domra  Melodiya/Angel, 1972.  Budashkin--Concert fantasy ; Concerto no. 4 / Barchunov--Fantasy / Petrenko. Vladimir Yakovlev, domra; Osipov Balalaika Orchestra; Viktor Dubrovsky, conductor.


Famous Lolitas
Ennio Morricone OST Lolita (1997) Theme
ROSSINI OPERA FESTIVAL - Pesaro 1986 Luciano Pavarotti Orchestra da Camera Per Musica
Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia
Richard Tucker sings Buzzi-Peccia's "Lolita." This was recorded in 1950 with Alfredo Antonini conducting the Columbia Concert Orchestra.

Famous butterflies

After the great financial success of Lolita, Nabokov was able to return to Europe and devote himself exclusively to writing. His son had obtained a position as an operatic bass at Reggio Emilia. On 1 October 1961, he and Véra moved to the Montreux Palace Hotel in Montreux, Switzerland; he stayed there until the end of his life. From his sixth-floor quarters he conducted his business and took tours to the Alps, Corsica, and Sicily to hunt butterflies. In 1976 he was hospitalized with an undiagnosed fever. He was rehospitalised in Lausanne in 1977 suffering from severe bronchial congestion. He died on 2 July in Montreux surrounded by his family and, according to his son, Dmitri, "with a triple moan of descending pitch". His remains were cremated and are buried at the Clarens cemetery in Montreux