The Political in Rimsky-Korsakov's Operas
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| Title: | The Political in Rimsky-Korsakov's Operas |
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| Description: | During the 19th and early 20th centuries, opposition to the tsarist autocracy grew in Russia. To counter this, Tsar Nicholas I instigated the Official Nationality Decree of 1833 basing this on “Orthodoxy, Autocracy, Nationality”. Subsequent tsars who enforced repression, censorship and the suppression of the peripheral counties of the Empire upheld this policy. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov questioned whether this “Official Nationality” truly represented the views of the Russian people, and, through his operas, he demonstrated that the interpretation of these three premises was questionable. This book examines each of these facets of nationality and how Rimsky-Korsakov presents them in a new light in his operas. It also shows how the composer's socio-political views, supported by his use of politically radical Russian writers, and as expressed through his correspondence and discussions with family and colleagues, clearly demonstrate that his political ideology, as well as his opposition to the tsar and his bureaucracy, gave a new interpretation of Russian “nationality”. |
| Authors: | John Nelson, Author |
| Resource Type: | eBook. |
| Subjects: | Despotism--Russia--History--19th century, Citizenship--Russia--History--19th century, Opera--Political aspects--Russia--History--20th century, Opera--Political aspects--Russia--History--19th century |
| Categories: | MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Opera, MUSIC / History & Criticism, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / General |
| Database: | eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) |
| Abstract: | During the 19th and early 20th centuries, opposition to the tsarist autocracy grew in Russia. To counter this, Tsar Nicholas I instigated the Official Nationality Decree of 1833 basing this on “Orthodoxy, Autocracy, Nationality”. Subsequent tsars who enforced repression, censorship and the suppression of the peripheral counties of the Empire upheld this policy. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov questioned whether this “Official Nationality” truly represented the views of the Russian people, and, through his operas, he demonstrated that the interpretation of these three premises was questionable. This book examines each of these facets of nationality and how Rimsky-Korsakov presents them in a new light in his operas. It also shows how the composer's socio-political views, supported by his use of politically radical Russian writers, and as expressed through his correspondence and discussions with family and colleagues, clearly demonstrate that his political ideology, as well as his opposition to the tsar and his bureaucracy, gave a new interpretation of Russian “nationality”. |
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| ISBN: | 9781527577732 9781527579057 |
