Zoia Gaidai’s Participation in Music Competitions under the Soviet Totalitarianism in 1930s

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to investigate one of the aspects of the professional activity of the Ukrainian singer Zoia Gaidai in the 1930s, namely her participation in music competitions during the establishment of the Soviet totalitarian regime. As part of the research, we aim to show the specifics of their organisation and holding, the scale of those creative events, and their significance for the professional development of the professional singer. The research methodology consists in the application of the source study method to analyse archival documents that contain information about Zoia Gaidai’s participation of in music competitions, as well as to study other materials on the topic of the research. The specifically historical method helps to highlight the socio-political processes against which the music competitions took place. The bio-bibliographic method enables determining the place of this aspect of the singer’s activity in her creative biography. General scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, generalisation) are applied in order to thoroughly study the issue and draw reasoned conclusions. The scientific novelty of the paper consists in the expansion of information about Z. Gaidai’s creative activity in the 1930s, which was supplemented by her participation in music competitions, in the assessment of the level of these competitions, their specificity and opportunities for the achievement of professional aspirations. Conclusions. The performed analysis and evaluation of the results of Z. Gaidai’s participation in the music competitions of 1933 and 1937 helped to reveal the level of her professional competence and professional aspirations. Despite the challenges of those difficult years, the singer managed to win the laureate title of the All-Ukrainian and All-Union competitions, which had a positive effect on the development of her career as a performer. However, the political situation in the USSR did not contribute to the fruition of the dreams to study in Italy, thereby depriving the Ukrainian artist of the opportunity to improve her professional skills and test her talent on the international stage.

Key words: Zoia Gaidai, music competitions in the USSR in the 1930s, the Great Famine of 1932–1933, ideological charge.