The Role of Classical Music as an Instrument of National Identity Actualization in the Russian Federation; The Case of Concert Programming in the Saint Petersburg State Philharmonic

Abstract

The Master Thesis focuses on discovering how the state-supported classical music organization, Saint Petersburg State Philharmonics, season programming is used as a placid instrument of national identity actualization in the Russian Federation. The research is a qualitative, single case study, based on a social constructionist approach. It comprises documented data on Russian State Cultural Policy reports (2014, 2016, 2023) and the Saint Petersburg State Philharmonics season programmes (2013-2023). The collected data is subjected to thematic analysis, through which themes, in connection to national identity formation are generated. The findings of the analysis on the state cultural policy documents present five themes, connected to national identity building. These found themes are actualized in the target organizations season programming, thus functioning as evidence of the state's growing, practically hegemonic power over the Philharmonic. The findings indicate that the national identity agenda and classical music ́s role in it is strong. As a result, the study proves that classical music is a functioning tool of national identity actualization in the Russian Federation.