Tchaikovsky Research : A Musical Note (TH 290)

Catalogue References	TH 290 ; ČW 555 (as "A Musical Notice")
Date	by 10/22 September 1874
Contents	Concerning the Russian Opera Company's productions of Dargomyzhskii's Rusalka and Glinka's A Life for the Tsar at the Moscow Bol'shoi Theatre on 1/13 September 1874 and 8/20 September 1874 respectively
Summary	This article contains encouraging advice for another young singer of great promise, the soprano Sharlotta Smel'skaia, who had just made her stage début; observations about the great progress made by the mezzo-soprano Evlaliia Kadmina since her own début a year earlier, which Tchaikovsky had praised so enthusiastically (TH 280); and a bitter remark in passing about how many Russian artists did not live up to their promise because they failed to perfect themselves through hard work
Language	Russian
Autograph Location	Lost
First Publication	Russian Register (Русские ведомости), Moscow,10 September 1874 [O.S.], under the signature "P. Tchaikovsky" (П. Чайковский)—the first time that Tchaikovsky signed an article in the Russian Register with his full name rather than with his usual cryptonym

English text

Our Russian Opera Company will very soon be making a valuable new acquisition in the person of Mme Smel'skaia [1], a singer who last week débuted with great success in the roles of Natasha in Dargomyzhskii's Rusalka and Antonida in A Life for the Tsar. This young débutante possesses without any doubt many fine qualities which hold out to her the prospect of a brilliant career, as long as she does not content herself with her first successes—something, alas!, that happens only too often—and rest on her freshly won laurels. Mme Smel'skaia is endowed with a sufficiently strong, fresh, and well-trained voice, as well as with a reliable intonation. Her singing is full of genuine passion and great musicality, thanks to which she was able to perform her two roles very convincingly.

She acts with great fervour, but, of course, she has not yet reached that level of stage competence and perfection which can only be acquired through experience. Besides, even her vocal performance was by no means faultless either. However, I repeat: Mme Smel'skaia has all the potential for becoming a truly great artiste and for eventually constituting one of the finest adornments to our opera stage, which has hitherto been living in such want.

Overall, it must be said that the performances of the Russian Opera which have taken place lately have caused a very favourable impression on the public, in particular thanks to the contribution of Mme Kadmina [2], who in the roles of the Princess in Rusalka and Vania in A Life for the Tsar has displayed not only her tremendous talent—which had already been acknowledged unanimously before—but, most importantly, her ability to perfect herself—an ability that, as everyone knows, is rarely to be found amongst our Russian artists. Mme Kadmina has evidently been working hard over the summer and has not wasted her time in vain. Her voice has gained in strength and stability, and in her singing there is now more composure and self-restraint. Her acting, too, is more thoughtful and shows greater maturity of understanding. In short, from a talented young débutante with great promise Mme Kadmina has now turned into a real artiste, and it is only to be wished that she should continue to perfect herself and to strive steadfastly after her ideal, which, though it may be far away still, can nevertheless definitely be attained by her.

As I am talking about the Russian Opera, I cannot fail to say a word of praise about Mr Dodonov, who in both of the aforesaid operas achieved a great and fully deserved success. In particular, it is worth noting the artistry with which Mr Dodonov emerges victorious from the incredible difficulties of the part of Sobinin, which is written for a strong tenor with high chest notes—something that this singer's graceful, but not especially strong voice lacks. The role of Susanin in A Life for the Tsar was sung by Mr Radonezhskii [3], who, probably under the influence of Mme Kadmina's ardent performance, cast off his usual imperturbable demeanour, felt himself inspired, and thanks to this produced a very favourable impression with his handsome voice.

A Musical Note

Музыкальная заметка

English text

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