Vasily Pashkevich
Encyclopedia
Vasily Alexeyevich Pashkevich also Paskevich (c.1742–March 20, 1797 St. Petersburg) was a Russian composer, singer, violinist and teacher who lived during the time of Catherine the Great.
and later to his widow, Catherine the Great. He also played violin, and taught singing in the Academy of Arts 1773-1774 and later in the court capella. Between 1780 and 1783 he managed the Karl Kniper Theatre and in 1789 he became the first violin of the court orchestra, remaining in charge of imperial ballroom music until his death.
Pashkevich wrote important comic operas, often re-working them at length, like Saint-Petersburg's Trade Stalls, begun in 1782 and revised in 1792, and also As you live you will be judged.
The comic opera The Miser a work of 17 scenes brought him most success. Its roles are: Scriagin, Liubima’s guardian; Liubima, his niece; Milovid, her beloved; Marfa, the servant girl that Scriagin is in love with; Prolaz, Milovid’s manservant who is in Scriagin’s service. Accordingly the speech and the names of the characters of Molière
's comedy were turned into Russian as well as the music that combines some features of European form with typically Russian melodies.
Catherine had literary ambitions, and Pashkevich was asked to set one of her own opera libretti for performance at the royal court. The result of this, opera Fevey
, was staged on April 19, 1786 at the Hermitage Theatre
in St. Petersburg. The lavish opera production evoked widespread admiration. Despite the success of Pashkevich's work during his years serving under Catherine II, his contributions were not appreciated by the Empress's heirs, who terminated his services and denied him a pension.
His style is similar to Italian opera buffa, but unlike them, the comic situations of his works are often overshadowed by vaguely tragic scenes. His operas are full of citations of popular songs, that later become one of the important characteristics of the great 19th-century Russian opera.
Biography
Vasily Pashkevich entered court service in 1756 becoming a court composer to Tsar Peter III of RussiaPeter III of Russia
Peter III was Emperor of Russia for six months in 1762. He was very pro-Prussian, which made him an unpopular leader. He was supposedly assassinated as a result of a conspiracy led by his wife, who succeeded him to the throne as Catherine II.-Early life and character:Peter was born in Kiel, in...
and later to his widow, Catherine the Great. He also played violin, and taught singing in the Academy of Arts 1773-1774 and later in the court capella. Between 1780 and 1783 he managed the Karl Kniper Theatre and in 1789 he became the first violin of the court orchestra, remaining in charge of imperial ballroom music until his death.
Pashkevich wrote important comic operas, often re-working them at length, like Saint-Petersburg's Trade Stalls, begun in 1782 and revised in 1792, and also As you live you will be judged.
The comic opera The Miser a work of 17 scenes brought him most success. Its roles are: Scriagin, Liubima’s guardian; Liubima, his niece; Milovid, her beloved; Marfa, the servant girl that Scriagin is in love with; Prolaz, Milovid’s manservant who is in Scriagin’s service. Accordingly the speech and the names of the characters of Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's comedy were turned into Russian as well as the music that combines some features of European form with typically Russian melodies.
Catherine had literary ambitions, and Pashkevich was asked to set one of her own opera libretti for performance at the royal court. The result of this, opera Fevey
Fevey
Fevey is an opera by Vasily Pashkevich to a Russian libretto by Catherine II of Russia.Empress Catherine II had literary ambitions and wrote nine opera librettos. This one, an allegorical fairy tale, was called The Story of Tsarevich Fevey...
, was staged on April 19, 1786 at the Hermitage Theatre
Hermitage Theatre
The Hermitage Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of five Hermitage buildings lining the Palace Embankment of the Neva River.The palatial theatre was built between 1783 and 1787 at the behest of Catherine the Great to a Palladian design by Giacomo Quarenghi...
in St. Petersburg. The lavish opera production evoked widespread admiration. Despite the success of Pashkevich's work during his years serving under Catherine II, his contributions were not appreciated by the Empress's heirs, who terminated his services and denied him a pension.
His style is similar to Italian opera buffa, but unlike them, the comic situations of his works are often overshadowed by vaguely tragic scenes. His operas are full of citations of popular songs, that later become one of the important characteristics of the great 19th-century Russian opera.
Operas
- Misfortune from Owning a Coach (Несчастье от кареты — Neschastye ot karety, libretto by Yakov KnyazhninYakov KnyazhninYakov Borisovich Knyazhnin was Russia's foremost tragic author during the reign of Catherine the Great. Knyazhnin's contemporaries hailed him as the true successor to his father-in-law Alexander Sumarokov, but posterity, in the words of Vladimir Nabokov, tended to view his tragedies and comedies...
, 1772?, November 7, 1779 St. Petersburg ) - Saint-Petersburg's Bazaar (Санкт Петербургский Гостный Двор — Sankt Peterburgskiy Gostinyi Dvor, libretto by Mikhail MatinskyMikhail MatinskyMikhail Alexeyevich Matinsky was a Russian scientist, dramatist, librettist and opera composer.-Biography:Matinsky originated from the serfs of Count S. P. Yaguzhinsky. He studied in the gymnasium for the "raznochintsy" at Moscow University and also in Italy. Later he taught mathematics at the...
1782 St. Petersburg), revised as You'll be Known by the Way you Live (Как поживёшь, так и прослывёшь — Kak pozhivyosh', tak i proslyvyosh, 1792 St. Petersburg) - The Burden Is Not Heavy if It Is Yours (Своя ноша не тянет — Svoya nosha ne tyanet, 1794)
- Two Antons (Два Антона - Dva Antona 1804?)
- The Miser (Скупой — Skupoy, 1782?, MoscowMoscowMoscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, 1811? Yakov KnyazhninYakov KnyazhninYakov Borisovich Knyazhnin was Russia's foremost tragic author during the reign of Catherine the Great. Knyazhnin's contemporaries hailed him as the true successor to his father-in-law Alexander Sumarokov, but posterity, in the words of Vladimir Nabokov, tended to view his tragedies and comedies...
after MolièreMolièreJean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
) - FeveyFeveyFevey is an opera by Vasily Pashkevich to a Russian libretto by Catherine II of Russia.Empress Catherine II had literary ambitions and wrote nine opera librettos. This one, an allegorical fairy tale, was called The Story of Tsarevich Fevey...
(libretto by Catherine II, April 19, 1786 St. Petersburg) - The Early Reign of Oleg (Начальное управление Олега — Nachal'noye upravleniye Olega,November 2, 1790 St. Petersburg– together with Giuseppe SartiGiuseppe SartiGiuseppe Sarti was an Italian opera composer.-Biography:He was born at Faenza. His date of birth is not known, but he was baptised on 1 December 1729. Some earlier sources say he was born on 28 December, but his baptism certificate proves the later date impossible...
and the Milanese musician C. Cannobio) - Fedul and his Children (Федул с детьми — Fedul s det'mi, libretto by Empress Catherine II, January 27, 1791 St. Petersburg– together with Vicente Martín y SolerVicente Martín y SolerVicente Martín y Soler was a Spanish composer of opera and ballet. Although relatively obscure today, in his own day he was compared favorably with his contemporary, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as a composer of opera buffa. He has been called the Valencian Mozart.He was born in Valencia and studied...
) - The Pasha of Tunis (Паша Тунисский — Pasha tunisskiy, libretto by Mikhail MatinskyMikhail MatinskyMikhail Alexeyevich Matinsky was a Russian scientist, dramatist, librettist and opera composer.-Biography:Matinsky originated from the serfs of Count S. P. Yaguzhinsky. He studied in the gymnasium for the "raznochintsy" at Moscow University and also in Italy. Later he taught mathematics at the...
, 1782)
Quotations
"I never saw anything more diverse and magnificent! There were more than 500 actors performing on stage for just a handful of people. There were a maximum of 50 people watching the whole thing, and that was because the Empress restricts the access to her Hermitage" (A contemporary account on the staging of the opera "Fevey")Discography
- C10 06853-56. Pashkevich, Vasili. Скупой [The Miser] (1781). Vladimir Agronsky. Chamber Orchestra of MoscowMoscowMoscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
Chamber Musical Theater (recorded 1978)USSR: Melodiya. stereo. Produced by Boris Pokrovsky
- Russkoe barokko - Zolotaya klassika (CD) Label(s): RCD Music RCD 30649 Year of production: 2003, Year of recording: 2003, Baroque Chamber Ensemble. Including:
- Vasily Pashkevich. Overture to the opera FeveyFeveyFevey is an opera by Vasily Pashkevich to a Russian libretto by Catherine II of Russia.Empress Catherine II had literary ambitions and wrote nine opera librettos. This one, an allegorical fairy tale, was called The Story of Tsarevich Fevey...
Allegro C major 2:51 - Vasily Pashkevich. Aria of Tsaritsa from the opera FeveyFeveyFevey is an opera by Vasily Pashkevich to a Russian libretto by Catherine II of Russia.Empress Catherine II had literary ambitions and wrote nine opera librettos. This one, an allegorical fairy tale, was called The Story of Tsarevich Fevey...
2:56 (Libretto by Catherine II) - Vasily Pashkevich. Overture to the opera Fedul s det'mi Allegro C major 2:50