Russia's societal hierarchy. Mordovtsev notes that Zubova's songs were "the first" compositions that were emotionally able to be sung due to Russia's demoralized and socioculturally bruised position as a result of the mid/late 17th century Raskol movement, a religious Schism led by Patriarch Nikon to centralize the Russian Orthodox faith and its practices, as well as consolidate the chain of command, leading to widespread persecution against the "Old Believers." Performance career Along with her compositional career, she was widely known for being a highly skilled folk-song performer, often performing at parties and salons to high praise. The Russian folklorist Mikhail Nikolaevich Makarov (1785-1847) said she was, "the best singer in the early reign of Catherine II." Her musical talent was steeped in the Italian style and participated in the 18th-century convention of ornamentation and melodic improvisation while performing, as per the custom during the Baroque period. This style was known as "figured singing," with the focus on dexterous movement and emotional fervanices all the while retaining a cool demeanor and composed vibrancy a quintessentiality of Zubova's singing style. Personality and death Natalia Kirillovna Zagryazhskaya (1747-1837), a lady in waiting to Catherine II and close acquaintance of Pushkin, called Zubova "an intelligent and amiable woman", akin to the behavioral style of "Monsieur Morte," the Marquise de Merteuil and hero of the novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Choderlos de Laclos. On October 9, 1799, Count Fyodor Vasilievich Rostopchin (1763-1826) and Count Semyon Vorontsov (1744-1832) notified Zubova's relatives that she had suddenly died after suffering a stroke during a card game with friends. Compositions Songs 1791: I am moving away from the beautiful local places into the desert, for piano and voice Anthologies 1770: Collection of Various Songs (Собрание разных песен:(Second version,1788), by M. D Chulkov and N. I Novikov 1827: Newest Selected Songbook 1979: Monuments of Russian musical art. Issue 1: Russian vocal lyrics of the 18th century, curated and published by Yuri. V. Keldysh Cantatas [They are said to have existed, but no more detail is provided] Poem According to Amanda Ewington, "Zubova's present obscurity belies the intense popularity once enjoyed by her poem 'I am Leaving for the Wilds.' This poem long attributed to Zubova, was a staple in Russian culture among all social classes." Recordings I am banished to the Desert: Ensemble Talisman, Oleg Timofeyev (Guitar), Anne Harley (Soprano) Dorian Recordings, Music of Russian Princesses (2013) I am retiring