Tchaikovsky
www.tchaikovsky-research.net

Vasilii Kandaurov

Vasilii Alekseevich Kandaurov (Василий Алексеевич Кандауров) was a naval officer, civil servant, and journalist. born in 1830.

A graduate of the Saint Petersburg naval school, Kandaurov worked from 1857 until 1879 as an official in various civil service posts, which included managing of theatres in Ekaterinoslavl', Orel' and Kursk. Between 1872 and 1875 he was the editor-in-chief of the periodical The Week (Неделя). In 1882 he was placed in charge of the decor and scenery departments of the Moscow Imperial Theatres.

Tchaikovsky was introduced to Kandaurov early in 1884  during preparations for the premiere of the opera Mazepa at Moscow's Bol'shoi Theatre. Shortly afterwards Kandaurov provided the libretto for an additional aria (Act II, No. 10a), which was required urgently during rehearsals for the opera. However, Tchaikovsky did not take up Kandaurov's offer later that year to supply an opera libretto on the subject of Pushkin's The Gypsies.

Vasilii Kandaurov died in 1888.