Alexander Griboyedov (1795–1829) was a diplomat, historian and Orientalist scholar, Russian writer, prose and playwrighter, pianist and composer, and author of the immortal comedy ‘Woe from Wit’. The life of A. Griboyedov was a rare example of harmony between public service and creative avocation.

The comedy ‘Woe from Wit’, a satire on aristocratic Moscow society in the first half of the 19^th century, is one of the pinnacles of Russian drama and poetry and one of the most quoted texts in Russian culture. Recognising the scale of the work, Alexander Pushkin predicted: ‘Half of the verses should become proverbs.’

To mark the birthday of Alexander Griboyedov, we invite you to listen to an excerpt from the legendary production by the Moscow Art Theatre (MAT), digitised from a gramophone record in the museum Collection: ‘Woe from Wit’, a comedy by A. Griboyedov. Scene from Act IV, perform Viktor Stanitsyn and Mark Prudkin.
This record is a valuable document of the epoch, preserving the stage speech and acting style of the great actors of the mid-20^th century in one of the most renowned Russian plays.

The scene from Act IV is the key moment of the comedy's finale, where Alexey Molchalin is exposed and Alexandr Chatsky finally breaks with Famusov's society. The record label documents the unique cast: Mark Prudkin – Molchalin (an insinuating, ‘silent’ secretary that reveals his true character in the finale) and Viktor Stanitsyn – Chatsky (a passionate accuser that catches Molchalin off guard). Both performers were outstanding representatives of the Moscow Art Theatre tradition and recognised classics of the Soviet theatre school.

The recording was released by the Aprelevsky Plant, which was the main producer of records in the USSR until the creation of the Melodiya label in 1964.
The inscription ‘Committee for Arts under the Council of Ministers of the USSR’ indicates that this was an official radio broadcast recording made between 1946 and 1953 (the period during which the committee existed under this name).

On the cover: USSR postage stamp.  ‘The 125^th anniversary of the death of A.S. Griboyedov. 1829-1954.’ 1954.