Aleksander Sergeyevich Griboyedov

Aleksander Sergeyevich Griboyedov  (January 15, 1795 – February 11, 1829) was a Russian diplomat, playwright, poet, and composer. His fame rests on the verse comedy Woe from Wit (or The Woes of Wit). He was Russia's ambassador to Qajar Persia, where he and all the embassy staff were massacred by an angry mob.

Born in Moscow, Griboyedov studied at Moscow University from 1810 to 1812. He then obtained a commission in a hussar regiment, which he resigned in 1816. The next year, he entered the civil service. In 1818 he was appointed secretary of the Russian legation in Persia, and transferred to Georgia.
His verse comedy The Young Spouses (Молодые супруги), which he staged in St.Petersburg in 1816, was followed by other similar works. Neither these nor his essays and poetry would have been long remembered but for the success of his verse comedy Woe from Wit (Горе от ума, or Gore ot uma), a satire on Russian aristocratic society.
As a high official in the play puts it, this work is "a pasquinade on Moscow". The play depicts certain social and official stereotypes in the characters of Famusov, who hates reform; his secretary, Molchalin, who fawns over officials; and the aristocratic young liberal and Anglomaniac, Repetilov. By contrast the hero of the piece, Chatsky, an ironic satirist just returned from western Europe, exposes and ridicules the weaknesses of the rest. His words echo the outcry of the young generation in the lead-up to the armed insurrection of 1825.
In Russia for the summer of 1823, Griboyedov completed the play and took it to St. Petersburg. It was rejected by the censors. Many copies were made and privately circulated, but Griboyedov never saw it published. The first edition was printed in 1833, four years after his death. Only once did he see it on the stage, when it was performed by the officers of the garrison at Yerevan. Soured by disappointment, he returned to Georgia. He put his linguistic expertise at the service of general Ivan Paskevich, a relative, during the Russo-Persian War of 1826-1828, after which he was sent to St. Petersburg at the time of the Treaty of Turkmenchay. There, thinking to devote himself to literature, he started work on a romantic drama, A Georgian Night (Грузинская ночь, or Gruzinskaya noch').
Prokofiev, Sergey, 1891-1953. War and peace; highlights Libretto by Mira Mendelson-Prokofieva. Melodiya/Angel [1968] Galina Vishnevskaya, soprano, and other soloists, chorus, and orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater; Alexander Melik- Pashayev, conductor; sung in Russian.
Mussorgsky, Modest Petrovich, 1839-1881. Alexander Kipnis in Moussorgsky's Boris Godounov. RCA Victrola[1969] Alexander Kipnis, with supporting soloists; Victor Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; Nicolai Berezowsky, conductor; sung in Russian. Recorded Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 1945, and Jan. 28, 1946.
Romberg, Sigmund, 1887-1951. The new moon music by Sigmund Romberg ; lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein 2nd. Capitol, 1963 Gordon MacRae, Dorothy Kirsten ; with chorus and orchestra, Van Alexander, conductor.
 Ballet music from the operas Angel Records [1961] Khovantschina: Dance of the Persian slaves, act 4, by Moussorgsky, orch. by Rimsky-Korsakov. Philharmonia Orchestra; Herbert von Karajan, conductor.
Prokofiev, Sergey, 1891-1953. Alexander Nevsky; cantata, op. 78. [Based on music for the Eisenstein film, with words by Lugovskoi & Prokofiev.] Angel, 1972. Anna Reynolds, mezzo-soprano; London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus; André Previn, conductor.

Death

Several months after his wedding to Nino, the 16-year-old daughter of his friend Prince Chavchavadze, Griboyedov was suddenly sent to Persia as Minister Plenipotentiary. In the aftermath of the war and the humiliating Treaty of Turkmenchay, there was strong anti-Russian sentiment in Persia. Soon after Griboyedov's arrival in Tehran, a mob stormed the Russian embassy.
The incident began when an Armenian eunuch escaped from the harem of Persian shah Fath Ali Shah, and two Armenian girls escaped from that of his son-in-law. All three sought refuge at the Russian legation. As agreed in the Treaty of Turkmenchay, Armenians living in Persia were permitted to return to Eastern Armenia The Shah demanded that Griboyedov return the three. Griboyedov refused. This caused an uproar throughout the city and several thousand Persians encircled the Russian compound demanding their release.
Griboyedov then decided to offer to return the Armenians. But it was too late. Moments later, urged on by the mullahs, the mob stormed the building." A high ranking Muslim scholar with the title of Mojtahed, Mirza Masih Astarabadi known as Mirza Masih Mojtahed, issued a fatwa saying freeing Muslim women from the claws of unbelievers is allowed.
Griboyedov and other members of his mission had prepared for a siege and sealed all the windows and doors. Armed and in full uniform, they were resolved to defend to the last drop of blood. Although small in number, the Cossack detachment assigned to protect the legation held off the mob for over an hour until finally being driven back to Griboyedov's office. There, Griboyedov and the Cossacks resisted until the mob broke through the roof of the building, and then through the ceiling, to slaughter them. The escaped eunuch and Griboyedov, who fought with his sword, were among the first to be shot to death; the fate of the two Armenian girls remains unknown. Second secretary of the mission Karl Adelung and, in particular, a young doctor whose name is not known, fought hard, but soon the scene was one of butchered, decapitated corpses.
Griboyedov's body, thrown from a window, was decapitated by a kebab vendor who displayed the head on his stall. The mob dragged the uniformed corpse through the city's streets and bazaars, to cries of celebration. It was eventually abandoned on a garbage heap after three days of ill-treatment by the mob, such that in the end it could be identified only by a duelling injury to a finger. The following June, Griboyedov's friend Alexander Pushkin, travelling through the southern Caucasus, encountered some men from Teheran leading an oxcart. The men told Pushkin they were conveying the ambassador's remains to Tiflis (now Tbilisi). Griboyedov was buried there, in the monastery of St David (Mtatsminda Pantheon).
When Nino, Griboyedov's widow, received news of his death she gave premature birth to a child who died a few hours later. Nino lived another thirty years, rejecting all suitors and winning universal admiration for her fidelity to her husband's memory.
In a move to placate Russia for the attack and the death of its ambassador, the Shah sent his grandson Khosrow Mirza to St Petersburg to apologize to Tsar Nicholas I, and to present him with a large diamond, now known as the Shah Diamond.

Joseph Brodsky

From high atop the beautiful campus of the University of California at Berkeley, it's time once again for Sadko's World of Music. The role of Sadko today is being played by Czeslaw Milosz . The role of the Bobbsie Twins is being played by  Lenka and Donna Iroda. The role of Ken Moss is being played by William Saroyan.  In the third half of the program, the role of Lenny the Listener will  be played by W. H. Auden.  Our featured great Russian writer today is
Iosif Aleksandrovich Brodsky (24 May 1940 – 28 January 1996) was a Russian poet and essayist.
Born in Leningrad in 1940, Brodsky ran afoul of Soviet authorities and was expelled from the Soviet Union in 1972, settling in America with the help of W. H. Auden and other supporters. He taught thereafter at universities including those at Yale, Cambridge and Michigan. Brodsky was awarded the 1987 Nobel Prize in Literature "for an all-embracing authorship, imbued with clarity of thought and poetic intensity." He was appointed United States Poet Laureate in 1991.

Jongen, Joseph, 1873-1953.  Symphonie concertante, organ, orchestra, op. 81 Angel, [1974]  Virgil Fox playing the organ of the Palais de Chaillot; Paris Opera Orchestra; George Prêtre, conductor.

Brahms, Johannes, 1833-1897.  Ein deutsches Requien. Variationen über ein Thema von Joseph Haydn, op. 56a.   Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft 1965]   Gundula Janowitz, soprano; Eberhard Waechter, baritone; Wiener Singverein; Berliner Philharmoniker; Herbert von Karajan, conductor.

Concertos for two guitars and orchestra by Franz Joseph Haydn, Antonio Vivaldi, and Alessandro Marcello. Mercury, [1964]   Ida Presti, Alexandre Lagoya, guitars ; Pro Arte Orchestra of Munich ; Kurt Redel, conductor.

Bock, Jerry.   Fiddler on the roof. Selections  Book by Joseph Stein, based on Sholom Aleichem's stories. Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.  RCA Victor, [1964]  "The original Broadway cast recording," starring Zero Mostel.   Tradition.--Matchmaker, matchmaker.--If I were a rich man. --Sabbath prayer.--To life.--Miracle of miracles.--Tevye's dream.--Sunrise, sunset.--Now I have everything.--Do you love me?--Far from the home I love.--Anatevka.

Brodsky died of a heart attack aged 55, in his New York City apartment on January 28, 1996. He had had open-heart surgery in 1979 and later two bypass operations, remaining in frail health since that time. He was buried in the Episcopalian section at Isola di San Michele cemetery in Venice, Italy.

Mikhail Sholokhov

From high atop the beautiful hamlet of  Kruzhilin in the lovely Administrative Region of the Don Cossack Army., it's time once again for Sadko's World of Music. The role of Sadko today is being played by Vassily Kudashov . The role of the Bobbsie Twins is being played by  Felicia and Philippa Ingold. The role of Ken Moss is being played by Herman Ermolayev.  In the third half of the program, the role of Lenny the Listener will  be played by  Fyodor Kryukov.  Our featured great Russian writer today is Mikhail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov   (May 24  1905 – February 21, 1984) was a Soviet/Russian novelist and winner of the 1965 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is known for writing about life and fate of Don Cossacks during Russian revolution, Civil War and collectivization, primarily the famous And Quiet Flows the Don.
Don Cossack Chorus.  Cossack folk songs| the Don Cossacks of Rostov.  Melodiya/Angel,   Bylina : epic (3:22) -- Melt, you snowdrifts, it's time (1 :54) -- Oh, you oak grove ; Oh, you frost, you bitter frost (2:30) -- A garland of six wedding songs. Do you hear ; You, Yagorushka ; I planted vines ; Mist in the ravine ; My Vanyushka ; A birch-tree on the hill (8:24) -- In the meadow (1:52) -- Be merry, Don Cossacks (1:39) -- My meadow, my greensward (1:41) -- Fellow Cossacks! (1:23) -- By the forest (3:17) -- A Cossack left for a far land (3:19) -- Oh, don't awaken me (1:20) -- Dawn (1:32) -- Oak grove (1:07) -- Oh, in the garden (1:13) -- Golden bee (1: 42) -- My native land (3:45) -- One who truly loves his motherland (2:09)   Don Cossacks of Rostov ; Anatoly Kvasov, conductor.
Don Cossack Chorus.  On the River Don Decca, [1965?].   Across the Danube--Cossack lullaby--Borodino--The Red Sarafan--Golden age--Barinya--Siberian vagabond song-- Comical village song--On the River Don--Round dance-- Sakura.   Don Cossacks Chorus ; Serge Jaroff, conductor
Don Cossack Chorus.  Christmas music and carols A pre- Easter service. Concert Hall Society, [19-]   Christmas music and carols: Hymn to Christmas -- Hymn for the Virgin Mary -- Glory be to the birth of Jesus Christ - - Stikh -- Hymn to the Virgin -- First Irmos from the Christmas canon -- Carols -- A pre-Easter service: Great canon of Andre Kritsky -- Svetilen -- Stikh -- Symbolic burial of Christ -- Tropar-The noble Joseph -- Prayer before the receiving of the Holy Communion -- Canon.  Don Cossack Chorus; Serge Jaroff, conductor.

Mikhail Bulgakov

From high atop the beautiful town of Kiev  in the lovely Ukraine, it's time once again for Sadko's World of Music. The role of Sadko today is being played by Professor Persikov . The role of the Bobbsie Twins is being played by Anna and Tatiana Lappa . The role of Ken Moss is being played by Lesley Milne.  In the third half of the program, the role of Lenny the Listener will  be played by Salman Rushdie.  Our featured great Russian writer today is
Mikhaíl Afanasyevich Bulgakov May 15  1891 – March 10, 1940) was a Soviet Russian writer and playwright active in the first half of the 20th century. He is best known for his novel The Master and Margarita, which has been called one of the masterpieces of the 20th century.

Composers names Michael
Tippett, Michael, 1905-1998. Child of our time Philips, 1975. Jessye Norman, soprano ; Janet Baker, contralto ; Richard Cassilly, tenor ; John Shirley-Quirk, bass ; BBC Singers ; BBC Choral Society ;
BBC Symphony Orchestra ; Colin Davis, conductor.
Various Artists – Master i Margarita: po prochtenii Bulgakova (The Master and Margarita: on Reading Bulgakov)
Kirill Radzig – Chapter 01 – Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov
Praetorius, Michael, 1571-1621. Music of Praetorius:
dances from Terpsichore (1612);motets from Muses of Zion (1605-10) and other collections. Angel [1974] Dances: Passameze. Spagnoletta. La bourée. Pavane de Spaigne. Courante M. M. Wüstrow. Suite de ballets. (Galliard) Reprinse secundam inferiorem. La sarabande. Suite de voltes.--Motets: Resonet in laudibus (from Eulogodia Sionia). Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort (from Polyhymnia caduceatrix). Gott der Vater wohn uns bei. Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (from Musae Sioniae I). Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (from Musae Sioniae II). Christus, der uns selig macht (from Musae Sioniae IV). Early Music Consort of London; boys of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St. Alban (in the 2d, 3d, and 6th motets); David Munrow, conductor.
Tippett, Michael, 1905-1998. Symphony no. 2. / The weeping babe. / Sonata for four horns. Argo[1968]London Symphony Orchestra, with Colin Davis, conductor (in 1st work); April Cantelo, soprano, with John Alldis Choir (in 2d work); Barry Tuckwell Horn Quartet (in 3rd work)
In poor health, Bulgakov devoted his last years to what he called his "sunset" novel. 1937-1939 for Bulgakov were stressful years as he veered from glimpses of optimism, believing the publication of his masterpiece could still be possible, to bouts of depression, when he felt as if there were no hope. On June 15, 1938, when the manuscript was nearly finished, Bulgakov wrote in a letter to his wife:

"In front of me 327 pages of the manuscript (about 22 chapters). The most important remains - editing, and it's going to be hard, I will have to pay close attention to details. Maybe even re-write some things... 'What's its future?' you ask? I don't know. Possibly, you will store the manuscript in one of the drawers, next to my 'killed' plays, and occasionally it will be in your thoughts. Then again, you don't know the future. My own judgement of the book is already made and I think it truly deserves being hidden away in the darkness of some chest..."^[6]

In 1939 Mikhail Bulgakov organized a private reading of The Master and Margarita to his close circle of friends. Yelena Bulgakova remembered 30 years later, "When he finally finished reading that night, he said: 'Well, tomorrow I am taking the novel to the publisher!' and everyone was silent", "...Everyone sat paralyzed. Everything scared them. P. (P. A. Markov, in charge of the literature division of MAT) later at the door fearfully tried to explain to me that trying to publish the novel would cause terrible things", she wrote in her diary (May 14, 1939)
Mikhail Bulgakov died from nephrosclerosis (an inherited kidney disorder) on March 10, 1940. He was buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow. His father had died of the same disease, and from his youth Bulgakov had guessed his future mortal diagnosis.