Alexander Ostrovsky and Anton Arensky: From The Voyevoda to Dream on the Volga

Abstract

The article analyses Dream on the Volga — the first opera by the prominent Russian composer Anton S. Arensky, based on the Alexander N. Ostrovsky’s play The Voyevoda. Although this composition was written in the early period of the composer’s creative activity, a lot of important features of his individual style, as well as principles of dramaturgy typical for his works for musical theatre, manifested in it. The author also compares the text of Arensky’s opera with Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky’s opera on the same plot, indicating some crucial differences.

Keywords

Anton Arensky, Alexander Ostrovsky, Dream on the Volga, The Voevoda, Russian opera, musical dramaturgy