2025 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-24 17:46
Despite the fact that Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov was born into a family far from art, his talent for music manifested itself at an early age. However, in the small town where the family of the future great composer lived, there were no music teachers, and besides, his parents predicted for him a career as a sailor following the example of his father. A neighbor and then governesses helped the boy learn to play the piano.
Having entered the Marine Corps in St. Petersburg, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov began to frequently attend various concerts and the opera house, where he got acquainted with the work of Glinka, who became his main inspiration. Later, he found a wonderful piano teacher in the person of F. Canille, who advised the young talent to compose music himself. After some time, Rimsky-Korsakov met M. Balakirev and joined the famous "Mighty Handful". At the time, he was only 17 years old, but the members of the group immediately recognized the great talent and potential in him.
One of the most outstanding Russian operasconsidered to be "The Snow Maiden", written by Nikolai Andreevich in 1881. It was this work that marked the final formation of the composer's musical style, and also expressed all his main aesthetic ideas, which were developed in subsequent works. Ostrovsky's play, on the basis of which Rimsky-Korsakov's The Snow Maiden was created, attracted the author with its simplicity, closeness to Russian traditions, as well as the beauty of ancient rituals. The composer wrote the libretto himself, taking this play as a basis.
The opera consists of 4 acts, and its plot tells about the Snow Maiden, languishing in her father's house and deciding to finally go out into the people. The Snow Maiden's father, Father Frost, is afraid for his daughter - after all, if she falls in love, the fire of love will destroy her. Having abandoned her father's guardianship, the Snow Maiden is fond of the shepherd Lel and his songs, but he is bored with the Snow Maiden, her feelings are unrequited. Then Kupava appears on the stage, who sincerely sympathizes with the Snow Maiden, as well as her fiancé Mizgir, who falls in love with Father Frost's daughter at first sight and leaves the bride. Following the advice of the people, Kupava complains to the king. However, all the fury of the sovereign disappears as soon as he sees the beautiful Snow Maiden.
Yarilin's day is approaching, and the king decides to marry all couples in love in the kingdom. Meanwhile, Kupava and Lel declare their love to each other, thereby causing the jealousy of the Snow Maiden. However, the girl's heart softens, seeing Mizgir's desperate attempts to win her love, and she finally returns his feelings. Yarilin day comes, and the king blessesthe union of Mizgir and the Snow Maiden, however, when the first sunbeam falls on the girl, she melts. Mizgir, unable to cope with his grief, drowns himself in the lake. However, even such a tragedy cannot overshadow Yarilin's day - people are having fun …
Although Rimsky-Korsakov retained the main plot of Ostrovsky's play, his understanding of the image of the Snow Maiden was somewhat different, which the composer embodied in the music of the opera. Her heart is revealed only in the final arioso, but this is also the hour of the death of the main character. The music of the opera is notable for its fabulous mood, vivid illustrations of nature and memorable characters. Never before has the mood of Russian antiquity been conveyed so vividly and vividly, with the possible exception of Glinka's Ruslan and Lyudmila.
Rimsky-Korsakov's opera "The Snow Maiden" is one of the best pieces of music in world culture. The richness of melodies and harmony of this work is simply amazing. The inexhaustible creative energy of the composer and his skill elevated the opera "The Snow Maiden" to the pinnacle of Russian musical art.
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