On behalf of the directors of the European Demidoff Foundation (EDF), I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Michail Talalay for organising two commemorative events on 1 and 2 November 2023 in Genova in memory of the 150th birth of Aurora Pavlovna Demidoff, Princess of San Donato.
On each day, the president of the EDF presented the story of his great-grandmother, Aurora Pavlovna Demidoff (1873-1904). The presentations included material found in the archives in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Estonia, together with a number of images from private collections. In other words, the actual story of this romantic tragedy is little known by the general public.
The presentation on the first day of 1 November took place at the ‘Casa Russa Arti Erzia‘ in Genoa. Special thanks are extended to our hosts, Irina Kovalyova, president of the ‘Lanterna di Genova‘, her daughter, Daria, together with Larisa Smirnova, president of the ‘Casa Russa Arti Erzia‘.
For the event, Irina Kovalyova wrote a moving poem about Aurora Pavlovna that was read to the audience. As part of the evening’s events, the audience also were treated to a musical performance by the talented pianist and composer, Pier Francesco Gaviglio Rouby. It was also a pleasure to meet, for the first time, Princesses Elena and Marta Troubetzkaya, who are family relations. The Serbian poet and translator, Vera Horvat, also participated and read her inspired poems in Serbian, while the vice-president of the cultural association, Russkij Dom Di Anton Čechov, offered the audience an excerpt from Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’.
On the following day of 2 November, a lunch was organised at Antica Osteria di Vico Palla, a trattoria, that was not easy to find, but that served delicious Ligurian specialties. Our guests included Professor Dr. Vitaliy Zherdev, from L’Universita degli Studi di Urbino, Inessa Abakumova, a Classical Music Singer, Dott.ssa Joulia Aprelova, and Padre Marian Selvini of the Chiesa di San Giorgio, amongst other distinguished guests. It was most moving to meet for the first time, my relations, Prince Roberto Troubetzkoy Hahn and his charming wife, Giovanna, the parents of Princesses Elena and Marta Troubetzkaya. It goes without saying that it was a delicious and leisurely lunch enjoyed by all those who attended.
In the evening, a second presentation was given to a mostly different audience on ‘Aurora Pavlovna Demidoff: Unfortunate in Love?’. The presentation was given at Chiesa di San Giorgio that was hosted by Padre Marian Selvini. Following the presentation, Padre Marian Selvini presided over a Russian religious service in memory of Aurora Pavlovna with the assistance of Inessa Abakumova. It was a most moving service and a fitting and solemn end to a wonderful two days in Genova.
Alexandre Tissot Demidoff
