This poster is for the Saratov City Theatre from 1882. It is evidence of a performance of the most famous of Russian songs: ‘Kalinka’. The poster shows that, on the 12 January, a troupe of artists were to put on a performance of the historical drama ‘The Tsar’s Bride’. It is indicated that the Russian song ‘Kalinka’ was performed by Mr Kravchenko with a choir.
Many still consider ‘Kalinka’ to be a Russian folk song. However, the famous song was written by the Russian composer, writer and folklorist, Ivan Larionov. He lived for around twenty years in Saratov. He was born into a noble family in1830, in Perm. After the family moved to Moscow, his parents sent him to the Moscow First Cadet Corps, where Larionov took piano lessons on top of his general and military education. The young cadet had a beautiful voice and happily sung in the school’s choir.
In 1858, Larionov moved to Saratov Province. At this time he travelled a lot throughout Russia and became interested in collecting the melodies of Russian folk songs. His collection consisted of about 400 compositions. Unfortunately, today, its whereabouts are not known. In 1860, an act from Krugopolov’s play ‘Bobil’ called ‘Vasilyev Evening’ was put on in Saratov. Ivan Larinov wrote the music for this production. The song ‘Kalinka’ was particularly well received. Later, this song was performed by both Dmitry Agrenev-Slavyansky’s choir and the popular singer Nadezhda Plevitskaya. ‘Kalinka’ became famous across the world largely due to the Soviet Army’s Alexandrov Ensemble.
Ivan Larionov taught singing at the Mariinsky Institute for Noble Maidens and at Saratov Musical courses in the Russian Musical society. He also gave private lessons, published reviews of symphony orchestra concerts and opera performances in the Saratov newspaper and wrote for the central ‘Music Review’. Larionov kickstarted the practice of musical criticism in Saratov. The city commemorates the composer of ‘Kalinka’ on the facade of the former headquarters of the Saratov newspaper.
Many still consider ‘Kalinka’ to be a Russian folk song. However, the famous song was written by the Russian composer, writer and folklorist, Ivan Larionov. He lived for around twenty years in Saratov. He was born into a noble family in1830, in Perm. After the family moved to Moscow, his parents sent him to the Moscow First Cadet Corps, where Larionov took piano lessons on top of his general and military education. The young cadet had a beautiful voice and happily sung in the school’s choir.
In 1858, Larionov moved to Saratov Province. At this time he travelled a lot throughout Russia and became interested in collecting the melodies of Russian folk songs. His collection consisted of about 400 compositions. Unfortunately, today, its whereabouts are not known. In 1860, an act from Krugopolov’s play ‘Bobil’ called ‘Vasilyev Evening’ was put on in Saratov. Ivan Larinov wrote the music for this production. The song ‘Kalinka’ was particularly well received. Later, this song was performed by both Dmitry Agrenev-Slavyansky’s choir and the popular singer Nadezhda Plevitskaya. ‘Kalinka’ became famous across the world largely due to the Soviet Army’s Alexandrov Ensemble.
Ivan Larionov taught singing at the Mariinsky Institute for Noble Maidens and at Saratov Musical courses in the Russian Musical society. He also gave private lessons, published reviews of symphony orchestra concerts and opera performances in the Saratov newspaper and wrote for the central ‘Music Review’. Larionov kickstarted the practice of musical criticism in Saratov. The city commemorates the composer of ‘Kalinka’ on the facade of the former headquarters of the Saratov newspaper.
