The Russian Opera

A contemporary critic has pointed to Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky as having, between them, built up Russian music to its present proud condition, "constructing their majestic...

Although I have now passed in review the leading representatives of Russian opera, my work would be incomplete if I omitted to mention some of the many talented composers--the m...

The history of Russian music enters upon a new period with the succession of the Empress Anne. The national melodies now began to be timidly cultivated, but the inauguration of...

The early history of the development of the national music, like that of most popular movements in Russia, has its aspects of oppression and conflict with authority. On the one...

The idea of composing a national opera now began to take definite shape in Glinka's mind. In the winter of 1834-1835, the poet Joukovsky was living in the Winter Palace at St. P...

Alexander Porphyrievich Borodin, born at St. Petersburg in 1834, was the illegitimate son of a Prince of Imeretia, one of the fairest of the Georgian provinces which the Russian...

Typically Russian by temperament and in his whole attitude to life; cosmopolitan in his academic training and in his ready acceptance of Western ideals; Tchaikovsky, although th...

We have seen that Glinka and Dargomijsky represented two distinct tendencies in Russian operatic music. The one was lyrical and idealistic; the other declamatory and realistic....

Glinka and Dargomijsky were to Russian music two vitalising sources, to the power of which had contributed numerous affluent aspirations and activities. They, in their turn, flo...

In the preceding chapters I have shown how long and persistently Russian society groped its way towards an ideal expression of nationalism in music. Gifted foreigners, such as C...

Anton Grigorievich Rubinstein was born November 16/28, 1829, in the village of Vykhvatinets, in the government of Podolia. He was of Jewish descent, his father being, however, a...

It is difficult to fix the exact moment at which the little "rift within the lute" became audible in the harmony of Balakirev's circle. In 1872 Balakirev himself was in full opp...

Glinka, in his memoirs, relates how in the autumn of 1834 he met at a musical party in St. Petersburg, "a little man with a shrill treble voice, who, nevertheless, proved a redo...

Sometimes in art, as in literature, there comes upon the scene an exceptional, initiative personality, whose influence seems out of all proportion to the success of his work. Su...

Martha, seated near the house of Andrew Khovansky, recalls her passion for him in a plaintive folk-song. The song closes with one of her prophetic allusions to the burning of th...

Sophia, with whom he has formerly had a love-intrigue. In spite of his western education Galitsin is superstitious. The scene which follows, in which Martha, gazing into a bowl...

Rimsky-Korsakov's position as a national composer and as a teacher. Biographical. Joins Balakirev's circle. Leaves the naval service. His early works. A tone-painter. His first...

Some minor composers. Napravnik: _The Citizens of Nijny-Novgorod_, _Harold_, _Doubrovsky_, _Francesca da Rimini_. Blaramberg: _Skomorokhi_, _The Roussalka-Maiden_, _Toushino_, _...

Musical life in Russia at the time of Glinka and Dargomijsky. Musical criticism and the academic party. Rapid increase of conservatoires and schools. Struggle between the young...

Primitive music of the Russian Slavs. The four periods of Russian music. The Skomorokhi or Gleemen. Clerical Intolerance. Church pageants. Tsar Alexis Mikhaïlovich, the first pa...

Accession of Empress Anne. Cultivation of the folk melodies. Change of taste. The Italians bring in secular plays. Feodor Volkov. Music under Catherine the Great. Fomin and his...

Early life and education. His début as a prodigy pianist. Musical studies in Berlin. Court pianist at St. Petersburg. His early operas. _Dmitri Donskoi_ and _Thomoushka Douracho...

Tchaikovsky considered apart from the nationalist circle. His early love of Italian opera. _The Voyevode._ _Undine._ _The Oprichnik._ The libretto described. _Cherevichek_, or _...

Alexander Sergeivich Dargomijsky. His meeting with Glinka. Visit to Paris. _Esmeralda_ and _The Triumph of Bacchus_. Growing interest in national music. Begins work on Poushkin'...

Borodin. Biographical details. _Prince Igor._ Comparison of _Igor_ with Glinka's _Russlan and Liudmilla._ Orientalism and optimism in _Prince Igor._ Death of Borodin. César Cui....

Childhood and education of Glinka. His awakening to music. Early years in the country. Love of nature. First music lessons. He enters the Civil Service. Begins to write songs. V...

Marriage and home surroundings. _A Life for the Tsar._ Features of the music. Its reception in Russia. _Prince Kholmsky_ and the songs. _Russlan and Liudmilla._ Later works. Fai...