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''The Merchant Kalashnikov'' ((ロシア語:''Купец Калашников''), ''Kupets Kalashnikov'') is a three-act opera by Anton Rubinstein, with a libretto by Nikolai Kulikov. It is based on ''The Song of the Merchant Kalashnikov'' by Mikhail Lermontov. ==Background== The opera was written between 1877 and 1879, and was first performed at the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg on .〔Taruskin, ''Kupets Kalashnikov''〕 Written about the same time as the composer's Fifth Symphony, it has been seen as an attempt by Rubinstein to place himself as a Russian nationalist composer, like the members of the Kuchka.〔Abraham (1945, 364〕 It has many elements in common with Russian nationalist operas which preceded it, notably Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's opera ''The Maid of Pskov'' and Tchaikovsky's opera ''The Oprichnik'', both of which were also set in the times of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It also contains typical features such as folk-songs, dances of jesters, chants of monks, and a chorus of praise for the Tsar. Like Rubinstein's earlier opera, ''The Demon'', (1871), it was based on a narrative poem by Lermontov. Nonetheless, ''The Merchant Kalashnikov'' was not a success. It was taken off after its first two performances for political reasons (the climactic execution of Kalashnikov being objected to by Tsar Alexander II).〔Taruskin, ''Kupets Kalashnikov''〕 It was revived in 1889, at first conducted by Eduard Nápravník; but at one performance under the composer's own baton, his conducting style was seriously ineffective: 'the chorus and the orchestra strayed so far apart that the performance had to be stopped.'.〔Waldon and Modell (1919), p.13〕 In any case the political situation meant that once again the performances had to be curtailed. Since then the opera has only been revived on Russian provincial stages,〔Taruskin, ''Kupets Kalashnikov''〕 although in 1902 it was performed at the Private Opera in Moscow. The opera has been criticised for the relatively low level of Rubinstein's musical and dramatic inspiration. The only significant female role, the merchant's wife Alyona, has no major part to play.〔Delano (1890), 148〕 Abraham writes: A good deal (the music ) is mediocre () colourless () the more definitely Russian melody sometimes tends to watery lyricism or else is weakened by conventional harmonization.() But mixed in with this is much beautiful, colourful and expressive music.〔Abraham (1945), 364〕 Taruskin, however, notes that the music closely follows the rhythms of the ancient Russian epics.〔Taruskin, ''Kupets Kalashnikov''〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Merchant Kalashnikov」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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