Gift for "Day D." from friends, St. Petersburg and Radio Liberty

ST. PETERSBURG. In the Northern capital, Sergei Dovlatov’s birthday was celebrated.

The anniversary year for Dovlatov is developing as it should. Friends did not allow to forget about the special date and minimize the anniversary program. Against the backdrop of changes that are persistently introducing images of completely different idols into the public’s mind, holding a large-scale holiday in honor of Dovlatov is acquiring special significance. The main role in the implementation of this project was assigned to the city on the Neva. Through the efforts of the historian Lev Lurie and literary critic Andrei Aryev, the birthday of Sergei Donatovich was celebrated in St. Petersburg on a grand scale - 3 days. Without pathos, atmospheric, varied.

The organizers and fans of the writer’s work, who signed a special appeal to the city authorities, managed the impossible. In the historical center, near house number 23 on Rubinstein Street, in which Dovlatov lived for about 30 years, a bronze monument by the sculptor Bukhayev appeared. Jazz music sounded on the streets, in cafes and restaurants they offered Dovlatov-menu.

In the city center, one could take part in thematic quests, excursions to Dovlatov places, attend exhibitions of works by Mark Serman, Mikhail Gavrichkov, Nina Alovert, Alexander Florensky, as well as a lodger from the nonexistent theater group Filshty-Kozly. Listen to online readings held at the Angleterre Hotel with the participation of famous St. Petersburg artists, see an interesting program of theater and film festivals. Actual and generous was a gift from Radio Liberty. Now everyone can hear archived recordings of the programs in which Sergey Donatovich took part. Among them are stories from the series “Ordinary People,” which Dovlatov recorded for several months in 1988.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru