Miaskovsky and prokofiev

Nikolai Miaskovsky entered the St. Petersburg Con­servatoire at the age of 25. There he met a fifteen-year-old student, who was to become his devoted friend. That student very often asked questions such as: "How many t-s should I write in the word symphonieta? I write one, but I think I ought to write two." Or: "What Beethoven's sonata should I choose for study?" Nikolai answered: "If you are writing a symphonietta, you ought to write two t-s; and you ought not to ask me what sonata you should choose, take any, they are all wonderful." When Miaskovsky at the age of 30 finished the class in composition nobody thought that he was to become not only the first-class composer but the first-class teacher at the Moscow Conservatoire. Sergei Prokofiev, that very student who wrote one t in the word symphonietta, finished his class at the age of 18, but he had to stay at the Conservatoire for another 5 years to study conducting and piano-playing. When he got the first prize-for piano-playing at the final exam nobody thought that he was to become a world famous composer.

Вопросы к тексту:

1. Where did Miaskovsky and Prokofiev become devoted friends?

2. How old where they at that time?

3. Was Miaskovsky the first-class composer or the first-class teacher?

4. For how many years was Prokofiev studying conducting and piano-playing?

5. Was Prokofiev only a world famous pianist?

Task 3. Перепишите предложения выбрав нужную форму глагола в действительном или страдательном залоге. Переведите предложения.

1. Water (cover) most of the Earth’s surface.

2. The park gates (lock) at 6.30 p.m. every evening.

3. The letter (post) a week ago and it (arrive) yesterday.

4. While I was on holiday, my camera (steal) from my hotel room.

5. While I was on holiday, my camera (disappear) from my hotel room.

6. The boat hit a rock and (sink) quickly.

Приложение 2: Тексты

Тексты для изучения

I семестр

My Family (Любимцева С.Н. p. 29)

My name is George. I'm a businessman.

Our family is large.

My father's name is Fred. He is an engineer. My mother's name is Jane. She is a doctor.

My parents are not old but they are not very young.

My grandfather and grandmother are rather old. They are on pension.

I have a brother and a sister.

My sister is a student. Her name is Ann. She is not married.

My brother is an interpreter. His name is John. He is married. His wife's name is Kate. She is an economist.

John and his wife have no children.

to be on pension [‘pensn] - быть на пенсии.

Film reviews (Н.И.Либерман р.31)

1. “Vassa” by Gleb Panfilov (1983)

My favourite film is “Vassa”. Its director is Gleb Panfilov. His productions are popular in our country. Panfilov is an experienced film-maker. His films are first class. Some of his films are “The Beginning”, “Valentina” and “The Theme”. They are well-known to our film-goers. “Vassa” is a screen-adaptation of a play by Gorky. Its interpretation is original. As for Churikova as Vassa, she is very good. Her acting is brilliant. “Vassa” is a wide-screen colour film. Its photographic effects are expressive. I like this film very much.