This week's selection focused on Russian opera. Some of the most famous Russian opera composers are Mussorgsky, Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich.
Opera arrived in Russia later than it did in the rest of Europe, and it was not until the 19th century that Russian opera really took off.
Some of the most famous Russian operas are Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky), Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky), and Prince Igor (Borodin).
Just as Hitler's control of Germany and Austria shaped German opera, so the control of Lenin and Stalin in the Soviet Union greatly influenced Russian opera. "The ideological and stylistic control and limitation of creative freedom by the authorities and older colleagues-composers in the hierarchical structures of the Union of Composers made almost impossible the innovation and experiment in any field of musical art."
Here's an excerpt of Prince Igor played by the Vienna Philharmonic.
Leave your comments and impressions below. And, don't forget to read the eighth installment for next week.
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