Alexander Dargomyzhsky facts for kids
Alexander Sergeyevich Dargomyzhsky (Russian: Александр Сергеевич Даргомыжский, tr. Aleksandr Sergeyevich Dargomyzhskiy , IPA: [ɐlʲɪkˈsandr sʲɪrˈɡʲe(j)ɪvʲɪdʑ dərɡɐˈmɨʂskʲɪj]; 14 February [O.S. 2 February] 1813 – 17 January [O.S. 5 January] 1869) was an important Russian composer in the 1800s. He helped connect the early Russian opera style of Mikhail Glinka with the later, more modern music of composers like The Five and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Contents
Life and Music
Early Life and Inspiration
Alexander Dargomyzhsky was born in 1813 in a village called Troitskoye, located in what is now the Tula Oblast region of Russia. He grew up and studied music in the city of Saint Petersburg.
Even when he was young, Dargomyzhsky was known for his musical talent. In 1833, he met the famous Russian composer Mikhail Glinka. Glinka encouraged him to focus on writing music, which greatly influenced Dargomyzhsky's career.
Famous Operas
Dargomyzhsky wrote several operas. His first opera, Esmeralda, was based on the famous book The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo. He finished composing it in 1839, and it was first performed in 1847.
Another important opera was Rusalka, which premiered in 1856. For a long time, Dargomyzhsky did not get much recognition for his work, except in Belgium. However, in the 1860s, he became a respected figure among a group of composers known as "The Five."
The Stone Guest
Dargomyzhsky's most famous work is his last opera, The Stone Guest. This opera is special because it used a new way of singing called "melodic recitative." This means the singing sounds more like natural speech, but it still has a clear melody.
Dargomyzhsky passed away in 1869 before he could finish The Stone Guest. Other composers, César Cui and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, helped complete the music and the first scene. "The Five" composers really liked this opera because they saw it as a modern way to express stories in opera. It was first performed in 1872.
Other Works
Besides his operas, Dargomyzhsky also wrote many songs, pieces for the piano, and some works for orchestras. He even started other opera projects, but they were not finished.
Alexander Dargomyzhsky died in Saint Petersburg in 1869 when he was 55 years old. His music helped shape the future of Russian opera.
See also
In Spanish: Aleksandr Dargomyzhski para niños
