To the Memory of a Star

Abstract

On 22 November 2017, the world of opera was shell-shocked by the death of the supergiant star Dmitry Hvorostovsky, a famous Russian baritone who died of cancer. His death was not a surprise because he had been terminally ill for a long time. However, the fact of his ‘sudden non-being’ in the world of opera appeared as a shock to all who loved it. My informants were no exception. Most of them had been lucky to attend his performances in Europe and to hear his unrivalled charming voice. ‘It feels like he is still here, still alive’, noted Zosya, ‘I think artists like him never die. They continue to shine even post mortem. Their glory is immortal. Will I ever reach this kind of fame and eternity?’ I did not respond to this question, which I guess was rhetorical—or maybe not. Maybe Zosya truly wanted to hear what a sociologist might think about her career potential. I softly switched the topic because I did not want to disappoint her. To be honest, I did not believe in her futuristic starry career, although miracles can, of course, happen. The reason I am so skeptical about Zosya’s future is that she and her idol Hvorostovsky are the two extra-polar types of global elite migrant.