Synopsis
On today’s date in 1909, The Golden Cockerel, the last opera of the Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, had its premiere in Moscow. Rimsky-Korsakov had died the previous year, after a bitter battle with government censors who objected to the opera’s thinly disguised satire against the bumbling administration of Czarist Russia. For the premiere, the censors won — the opera was performed with all the changes that Rimsky-Korsakov had so stubbornly resisted while alive.
The original text was not restored until after the Russian revolution of 1917.
Closer to our own time, in October 1987, American composer John Adam’s Nixon in China, debuted at Houston Grand Opera. Alice Goodman’s libretto depicts the historic visit to Red China of President Nixon and then Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger. Adams says he was completely indifferent to what the real-life personages in his opera might have thought of it.
No government censors objected, in any case, but Adams said that Richard Nixon’s lawyer, Leonard Garment, did attend a performance of Nixon in China, and probably reported back to the former President. Nixon’s reaction is not known — nor that of Henry Kissinger. We’re happy to report, however, that according to John Adams, Leonard Garment did subsequently became something of a fan of his music.
Music Played in Today's Program
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908): The Golden Cockerel Suite; Russian National Orchestra; Mikhail Pletnev, conductor; DG 447 084
John Adams (b. 1947): The Chairman Dances; San Francisco Symphony; Edo de Waart, conductor; Nonesuch 79453
On This Day
Births
1746 - American composer of hymns, anthems and fuging tunes, William Billings, in Boston
Deaths
1918 - English composer Hubert Parry, 70, at Knight’s Croft, Rustington (Sussex)
Premieres
1893 - Gilbert & Sullivan: operetta Utopia Unlimited, at the Savoy Theatre in London
1905 - Victor Herbert: operetta Mlle. Modiste, in Trenton, New Jersey
1909 - Rimsky-Korsakov: opera The Golden Cockerel, posthumously, in Moscow at the Solodovnikov Theater, Emil Cooper conducting (Julian date: Sept. 24)
1951 - Lukas Foss: Piano Concerto No. 2, in Venice, with the composer as soloist
1955 - Milhaud: Symphony No. 6, by the Boston Symphony with the composer conducting
1956 - Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 6, in Leningrad, by the Beethoven Quartet
1961 - Henry Cowell: Symphony No. 15 (Thesis), in Murray, Kentucky, by the Louisville Orchestra, Robert Whitney conducting
1963 - José Serebrier: Poema Elegiaco, by the American Symphony Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski conducting
1976 - Del Tredici: Final Alice, in Chicago, with soprano Barbara Hendricks and the Chicago Symphony conducted by Sir Georg Solti
1983 - Arvo Pärt: If Bach Had Raised Bees for harpsichord, electric bass guitar, tape and ensemble, in Graz, Austria
1994 - Daniel Asia: Gateways for orchestra, by the Cincinnati Symphony, Herrman Michael conducting
2000 - Jake Heggie: opera Dead Man Walking, at the San Francisco Opera, Patrick Summers conducting
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About Composers Datebook®
Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.
He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.