Architecture as Frozen Music: Italy and Russia in the Context of Cultural Relations in the 18th -19th Centuries

This article deals with the two kinds of art, architecture and music, in their stylistic mutual influence on the historical background of St. Petersburg?s founding and developing as the new capital of the Russian Empire in the early 18th century. The author highlights the importance of Italian architects and musicians in the formation of modern culture in Russia and shows how the main features of Baroque and Classicism are reflected both in the architecture and music thanks to the influence of the Italian masters. For the first time the issue of the "Russian bel canto" formation resulted from the Italian maestros working in Russia in 18?19 centuries is revealed.