Alexander Sumarokov facts for kids
Alexander Petrovich Sumarokov (Russian: Алекса́ндр Петро́вич Сумаро́ков; born November 25, 1717, in Moscow – died October 12, 1777, in Moscow) was a very important Russian poet and writer. He is known for creating classical theatre in Russia. He worked alongside Mikhail Lomonosov to bring a new style called classicism to Russian literature.
Contents
Life and Works
Early Life and Career
Alexander Sumarokov came from a noble family in Moscow. He studied at the Cadet School in St. Petersburg. There, he learned a lot about French culture and writing. Sumarokov was the first Russian gentleman to choose writing as his main job. Because of this, he is often called the "father of the Russian literary profession."
Plays and Theatre
Sumarokov wrote many works, especially in types of writing that Mikhail Lomonosov did not focus on. His plays are his most important contribution. His play Khorev (written in 1749) is seen as the first official Russian drama.
He managed the first permanent public theatre in the Russian capital. He worked with famous actors like Fyodor Volkov and Ivan Dmitrievsky. His plays often used stories from Russian history, like Dmitry Samozvanets. He also used old Russian legends, such as in Khorev. Sometimes, he based his plays on works by William Shakespeare, like Makbet and Hamlet.
Some people, like D.S. Mirsky, believed that Sumarokov's plays were best when performed by good actors. They thought the plays themselves might not have been the strongest literature. However, his work was still very important for developing Russian theatre.
Other Writings
Sumarokov also wrote other kinds of works. His fables were the first of their kind in Russia. This type of story later became very popular. His satires were witty attacks against government workers and law officers. He sometimes used the style of popular poetry in these.
Of all his writings, his songs are still enjoyed by many. They are known for their clever rhythms and beautiful melodies. These songs were mostly about traditional love themes.
Sumarokov also wrote literary criticism. He helped teach the Russian public about the rules of classical writing. He admired Voltaire and was proud to have exchanged letters with him. Sumarokov was influenced by many European writers, including Shakespeare and Lope de Vega, often through Voltaire's ideas. He saw himself as a Russian version of famous writers like Jean Racine and Voltaire. He could be easily annoyed and sensitive in his personal life. But his strong personality helped to raise the status of writers in society.
His daughter, Ekaterina Kniazhnina, was also a poet in the 1700s. She is often thought of as the first Russian woman writer. Her works, along with those of Elizaveta Kheraskova and Alexandra Rzhevskaia, were among the first by women to be printed in Russian journals.
Opera Libretti
Sumarokov also wrote the words for operas, called librettos. The first opera written in the Russian language was Tsefal i Prokris (Cephalus and Prokris). Alexander Sumarokov wrote the libretto for this opera. An Italian composer named Francesco Araja wrote the music. It was performed in Saint Petersburg on March 7, 1755.
He also wrote the libretto for the second opera in Russian. This was Altsesta (Alceste), written in 1758. A German composer named Hermann Raupach wrote the music for this one.
See Also
In Spanish: Aleksandr Sumarókov para niños
