Nikolay Karamzin
Writing
Biography
Nikolay Mikhaylovich Karamzin (1766-1826) was a Russian historian, poet, and journalist who was the leading exponent of the sentimentalist school in Russian literature. From an early age, Karamzin was interested in Enlightenment philosophy. After extensive travel in western Europe, Karamzin described his impressions in his Letters of a Russian Traveller (1789–1790). Written in a self-revealing style influenced by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Laurence Sterne, the 'Letters' helped introduce to Russia the sentimental style then popular in western Europe. Karamzin’s tale Poor Liza (1792), about a village girl who commits suicide after a tragic love affair, soon became the most celebrated work of the Russian sentimental school. In 1803 Karamzin’s friendship with the emperor Alexander I resulted in his appointment as court historian. The rest of his life was devoted to his monumental 12-volume History of the Russian State (1816-29); the first general survey of Russian history, conceived as a literary rather than an academic work. A main source for Pushkin’s drama Boris Godunov, Karamzin's 'History' is considered to have contributed much to the development of Russian literary language, for in it he sought to bring written Russian closer to the rhythms and conciseness of educated speech and to equip the language with a full cultural vocabulary.
Known For
A beautiful peasant girl is romanced and abandoned by a young nobleman.
Poor Liza
Nobleman Boris Godunov accumulates power in Russia, first as regent, then as tsar. But the ghosts of the past catch up with him and he ends up losing not only his power but his sanity. Russia sinks ever deeper into a mire of corruption, intrigue and coups. In his grand choral opera, Modest Mussorgsky deals with a theme that offers poignant parallels to today’s world: the extremes to which one man’s thirst for power can lead. The director Kirill Serebrennikov incorporates his own experiences in Russia to present his take on an opera about political turmoil and its consequences. Serebrennikov’s production focuses on the effect on the people of high-stakes political scheming. Conductor Vasily Petrenko makes his Amsterdam debut leading the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. A top-flight cast is led bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny, celebrated for his ability to get into the skin of his characters both vocally and dramatically, singing the title role for the first time.
Boris Godunov
This is the Andrei Tarkovsky production of the famous Pushkin/Mussorgsky opera, performed in 1990. Modest Mussorgsky's opera in prologue and four acts is performed by the Kirov Opera with performances from Olga Borodina, Alexei Steblianko and Sergei Leiferkust. Boris Godunov has obtained the throne of Russia by murdering the rightful heir Dmitry. An old monk, Pimen, witnessed this, and convinces his apprentice Grigory to avenge Dmitry's death. In the following years Grigory poses as Dmitry, raising an army against Boris, who is now convinced that he is being punished for the murder. Filmed in Russia during the collapse of the Soviet Union, this particular production of Mussorgsky's 1872 tale of political upheaval is considered a highly unique and historical moment in opera. Robert Lloyd stars in the title role of Boris Godunov.
Boris Godunov
The film is put on the motives of a well-known story of Nikolay Karamzin about the tragic love of the poor girl to the rich young man.
Poor Liza
The villain Erast fell in love with the beautiful villager Lisa, dishonored, betrayed and ran away. The tragic outcome is not far off.
Poor Lisa
The action takes place in Russia and Poland in 1598-1605. After the death of the feeble-minded Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, Boris Godunov ascends to the Moscow throne by the decision of the Zemsky Sobor. Boris Godunov, who had gained great influence and power at court during the reign of Ivan the Terrible through intrigue, alliances, and arranging his sister Irina's marriage to Tsarevich Fyodor, had already gained significant influence during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. However, a new pretender to the throne suddenly appears: someone claiming to be the younger son of Ivan the Terrible, Tsarevich Dmitry, who was officially killed in Uglich in 1591.