Tchaikovsky and the Russian Five

Catherine II

A German noblewoman who brought Enlightenment ideas to Russia. Russian culture, economy, society, and empire were revitalized under her reign.

Mikhail Glinka

A Russian composer who trained briefly in Italy and France. He wrote Life of the Czar (1836) about a Russian historical period (1605-1613).

Alexander Scriabin

A Russian pianist and composer. His early works, inspired by Chopin, were highly tonal. Later in life, he developed an atonal musical system that informed his dissonant late work. He was influenced by synesthesia, associating colors with notes of his atonal scale.

Alexander Borodin

A member of the Russian Five who was a chemist and medical researcher. He wrote the opera Prince Igor, which was completed by Rimsky-Korsakov after his death. His music reflects folk characters.

N. Rimsky-Korsakov

A member of the Russian Five who was a naval officer. He wrote symphonic suite Scheherazade (1888), and wrote a treatise on orchestration (1873). His compositional style is intense melody supported by blocks of sound.

Modest Mussorgsky

A member of the Russian Five who was musically trained until age 15, at which point he worked in army and civil service. Little survives of his music before 1858, and he died of complications of alcoholism at age 42.

César Cui

A military engineer, and the least known of the Russian Five. He wrote prose in defense of the Five, shaping their identity as the Five.

Mily Balakirev

A musician and composer who wrote in the style of Berlioz. He is the unifying factor of the Russian Five, and the other members of the group bear his influence.

Peter Tchaikovsky

A well-known, slightly troubled Russian composer. Although he studied law and received musical training relatively late, he went to conservatories in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Life of the Czar

Glinka's 1836 opera about a Russian historical period (1605-1613). This opera is notable for its basis on French grand opera while incorporating Russian popular songs and cultural ideas.

Peter the Great

Husband to Catherine II who was later assassinated. Brought Western culture and influence to Russia, specifically the culture of the court: government, army, style of dress.

"The Mighty Handful"

In Russian: "Moguchaya Kuchka." A term used to refer to five Russian composers united through the influence of Mily Balakirev. The Five are: Mily Balakirev, César Cui, Alexander Borodin, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and Modest Mussorgsky.

Boris Godunov

Mussorgsky's 1869 (edited 1873) opera chronicling the ascension of Boris Godunov to the throne. After the death of Ivan the Terrible, Ivan's son died in mysterious circumstances; Despite rumors that Boris was responsible for the death, he is crowned Czar. In the opera, Mussorgsky makes these rumors "fact;" Boris goes mad and dies from guilt.

Pictures at an Exhibition

Mussorgsky's 1874 set of piano pieces based on a number of different paintings and set as if being viewed in a gallery. The set was arranged for orchestra by Maurice Ravel; it features a saxophone solo in the second movement, "The Old Castle."

Swan Lake

Tchaikovsky's 1876 ballet based on folktales about a princess cursed to become a swan by an evil sorcerer. Despite its initial failure, it remains one of the most popular ballets.

Eugene Onegin

Tchaikovsky's 1878 opera based on a novel by Alexander Pushkin. It retains much of the poetry from the original novel, as it was written in verse. The opera is episodic, constructed of "lyrical scenes" from the main character's life.

Nutcracker

Tchaikovsky's 1882 opera about a child's imagination of a world of sweets. It is widely loved and performed each year around Christmastime.

Sleeping Beauty

Tchaikovsky's 1889 ballet based on the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty.

Queen of Spades

Tchaikovsky's 1890 opera based on a short story by Alexander Pushkin.