Carolyn Kunin sends the following reference to various works, some of which VN alludes to in his fiction:A challenge to the list (this is a quiz, and there will be a prize, or surprise*) - Identify the person responsible for the existence of the following important, nay defining pieces of 20th century music:The Firebird Petrushka Pulcinello Les noces Apollo Ð’ÐµÑÐ½Ð° ÑÐ²ÑÑ‰ÐµÐ½Ð½Ð°Ñ**
* treat, or trick? ** Le sacre du printemps (btw - does anyone know - I don't, but will try to find out - why it isn't Les sacres du printemps?

Jansy Mello: If the "surprize" is of the treat or trick kind, I'm sure the answer CK expects cannot simply indicate Igor Stravinski.

So, I did a little googling, but I don't think I reached anything that particularly relates to CK's line of inquiry. Most of Carolyn's questions and information are way beyond my grasp of music and European culture.

Vladimir Nabokov is the influential Russian-American writer best known for Lolita (1955) and Pale Fire (1962). Lolita is widely regarded as one of the most important novels of the 20th Century. Vladimir Nabokov was an Eastern Orthodox Christian; specifically, he was Russian Orthodox. For nearly two centuries now, Switzerland - particularly along the shores of Lake Geneva - has been home to many Orthodox Christians, predominantly Russian. Igor Stravinsky and Vladimir Nabokov are but two of the distinguished representatives of this community, much appreciated on Lake Geneva's "Riviera" The religion of Vladimir Nabokov, novelist www.adherents.com/.../Vladimir_Nabokov.html-

Encyclopedia of Russian History | 2004 |STRAVINSKY, IGOR FYODOROVICH...[ ] Among the most influential composers of the twentieth century, Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky epitomized the new prominence of Russian emigré creative artists and their presence on the international scene in the years following the 1917 Revolution. Like the contributions of his emigré colleague writer Vladimir Nabokov and choreographer George Balanchine-Stravinsky's enormous contribution to his art significantly altered the course of twentieth-century music. Stravinsky's compositions encompass every important musical trend of the period (neonationalism, neoclassicism, and serialism, to name a few) and include examples of all the major Western concert genres (opera, ballet, symphony, choral works, solo works, and numerous incidental works, including a polka for circus elephants).

In a blog, I found a profusion of links bt. Stravinski, Diaghilev and Nicolas Nabokov [ For example: Cf.Os Anos Loucos - Capítulo 9: A Maré Báltica Marcadores: Boris Kochno, Coco Chanel, Igor Markevitch, Igor Stravinski, Katherine Mansfield, Nicolas Nabokov, Sergei Diaghilev, Sergei Prokofiev, Vernon Dukelski Anos Loucos: Os Anos Loucos - Capítulo 9: A Maré Báltica