The Merchant Kalashnikov (Russian:Купец Калашников,romanized: Kupets Kalashnikov) is a three-actopera byAnton Rubinstein, with alibretto byNikolai Kulikov [ru]. It is based on the 1837 narrative poemThe Song of the Merchant Kalashnikov byMikhail Lermontov.
The opera was written between 1877 and 1879, and was first performed at theMariinsky Theatre,Saint Petersburg on 5 March [O.S. 22 February] 1880.[1] Written about the same time as the composer's FifthSymphony, it has been seen as an attempt by Rubinstein to place himself as a Russian nationalist composer, like the members ofThe Mighty Handful.[2] It has many elements in common with Russian nationalist operas which preceded it, notablyNikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's operaThe Maid of Pskov andTchaikovsky's operaThe Oprichnik, both of which were also set in the times ofTsarIvan the Terrible. It also contains typical features such as folk-songs, dances of jesters, chants of monks, and a chorus of praise for the Tsar. Like Rubinstein's earlier opera,The Demon, (1871), it was based on a narrative poem by Lermontov.
The Merchant Kalashnikov was not a success. It was taken off after its first two performances for political reasons (the climactic execution of Kalashnikov being objected to byTsar Alexander II).[1] It was revived in 1889, at first conducted byEduard Nápravník; but at one performance under the composer's own baton, his conducting style was seriously ineffective: "the chorus and the orchestra strayed so far apart that the performance had to be stopped."[3] In any case, the political situation meant that once again the performances had to be curtailed. Since then the opera has only been revived on Russian provincial stages,[1] although in 1902 it was performed at thePrivate Opera in Moscow.
The opera has been criticised for the relatively low level of Rubinstein's musical and dramatic inspiration. The only significant female role, the merchant's wife Alyona, has no major part to play.[4]Gerald Abraham writes:
A good deal [of the music] is mediocre [and] colourless ... the more definitely Russian melody sometimes tends to watery lyricism or else is weakened by conventionalharmonization. ... But mixed in with this is much beautiful, colourful and expressive music.[2]
Richard Taruskin, however, notes that the music closely follows the rhythms of the ancientRussian epics.[1]
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 5 March 1880 (Conductor: Karel Kucera) |
|---|---|---|
| Stepan Paramonovich Kalashnikov,a merchant | baritone | |
| Sergey Kiribeyevich,anoprichnik | tenor | Josef Paleček |
| Tsar Ivan IV | bass | Fyodor Stravinsky |
| Alyona Dmitriyevna,Kalashnikov's wife | soprano | Wilhelmina Raab [ru] |
| Chorus: citizens, oprichniki,boyars, heralds, neighbours, etc. | ||
Kiribeyevich, a member of the Tsar's guard (oprichnik) has made off with Alyona, the wife of Kalashnikov. Kalashnikov challenges him, and in abare-fist fight kills him. Despite the pleas of Kalashnikov's wife, the Tsar condemns the merchant to death.
A recording was issued byMelodiya conducted byOnisim Bron.
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