Moscow

Moscow Private Russian Opera

1885-1904

The first Russian private opera enterprise with a stationary troupe that achieved high artistic results. It was opened in Moscow in 1885 by the industrialist and art patron Savva Mamontov, who became the director of the theatre. In 1885–1888 it was called the Krotkov Theatre, in 1896–1899 — the Winter Private Opera (by names of its producers), later — the Private Russian Opera Company. Productions were performed on different stages including the Lianozov Theatre, the Solodovnikov Theatre and the International theatre. In 1904, the theatre was closed due to Mamontov's bankruptcy. In the same year, Sergey Zimin established the Zimin Opera and in many respects continued the life's work of Mamontov. The Private Russian Opera played a significant role in establishing principles of realism and artistic integrity. The theatre popularized Russian opera, above all, operas by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, Alexander Dargomyzhsky, Modest Mussorgsky et al. There were world premiers of “Sadko” (1897), “Mozart and Salieri” (1898), “The Tsar's Bride” (1899), “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” (1900), “Kashchey the Deathless” (1902); the Moscow premiere of “Khovanshchina” (1897). Among stagings of public importance there were “The Snow Maiden”, ”The Stone Guest”, “The Maid of Pskov”, “Boris Godunov”, “The Maid of Orleans”, “Mazepa”, “Vakula the Smith”, “La bohème”, and “Werther”. In the repertoire there were also “Ivan Susanin”, “Rusalka” ("The Mermaid"), “Rogneda”, “The Demon”, “Prince Igor”, “Judith”, “Asya”, “The Merchant Kalashnikov“, “Ruslan and Lyudmila”, and other operas. The Mamontov Opera shaped a new type — a singer-actor. This is where Feodor Chaliapin’s fame began. The troupe also included outstanding singers Nadezhda Zabela-Vrubel, Pyotr Lodiy, Pyotr Olenin, Vera Petrova-Zvantseva, Nadezhda Salina, Anton Sekar-Rozhansky, Nikolay Shevelev, Elena Tsvetkova, Varvara Eberle et al.; prominent directors Vladimir Lossky, Pyotr Melnikov, Pyotr Olenin, Vasiliy Shkafer, Mikhail Lentovsky et al; conductors Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, Sergey Rachmaninoff, Joseph Truffi, Eugenio Esposito. Mamontov involved renowned artists — Victor and Apollinariy Vasnetsovs, Mikhail Vrubel, Konstantin and Sergey Korovins, Isaac Levitan, Vasiliy Polenov, Valentin Serov et al. Our album Stage Designers Catalogue shows sketches of scenery and costumes by Vasiliy Polenov, Mikhail Vrubel, and Alexander Yanov. The Private Russian Opera played a significant role in establishing principles of realism and artistic integrity. The theatre popularized Russian opera, above all, operas by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, Alexander Dargomyzhsky, Modest Mussorgsky et al. There were world premiers of “Sadko” (1897), “Mozart and Salieri” (1898), “The Tsar's Bride” (1899), “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” (1900), “Kashchey the Deathless” (1902); the Moscow premiere of “Khovanshchina” (1897). Among stagings of public importance there were “The Snow Maiden”, ”The Stone Guest”, “The Maid of Pskov”, “Boris Godunov”, “The Maid of Orleans”, “Mazepa”, “Vakula the Smith”, “La bohème”, and “Werther”. In the repertoire there were also “Ivan Susanin”, “Rusalka” ("The Mermaid"), “Rogneda”, “The Demon”, “Prince Igor”, “Judith”, “Asya”, “The Merchant Kalashnikov“, “Ruslan and Lyudmila”, and other operas. The Mamontov Opera shaped a new type — a singer-actor. This is where Feodor Chaliapin’s fame began. The troupe also included outstanding singers Nadezhda Zabela-Vrubel, Pyotr Lodiy, Pyotr Olenin, Vera Petrova-Zvantseva, Nadezhda Salina, Anton Sekar-Rozhansky, Nikolay Shevelev, Elena Tsvetkova, Varvara Eberle et al.; prominent directors Vladimir Lossky, Pyotr Melnikov, Pyotr Olenin, Vasiliy Shkafer, Mikhail Lentovsky et al; conductors Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, Sergey Rachmaninoff, Joseph Truffi, Eugenio Esposito. Mamontov involved renowned artists — Victor and Apollinariy Vasnetsovs, Mikhail Vrubel, Konstantin and Sergey Korovins, Isaac Levitan, Vasiliy Polenov, Valentin Serov et al. Our album Stage Designers Catalogue shows sketches of scenery and costumes by Vasiliy Polenov, Mikhail Vrubel, and Alexander Yanov.