S. R.: "Salammbo: melodramma"

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Operas by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Aleko (1892) The Miserly Knight (1904) Francesca da Rimini (1905) Monna Vanna (1908; unfinished) Salammbô (projected)
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Salammbô is a melodrama conceived by Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff around 1906.

It is based on Salammbô, a historical novel by Gustave Flaubert.

The idea was long thought about, but Rachmaninoff was unable to find a suitable librettist and aborted the idea when his wife and daughter fell ill.^[1]

 

After his two recent operas, The Miserly Knight (Op. 24, 1904) and Francesca da Rimini (Op. 25, 1905), achieved little success, Rachmaninoff eagerly considered another, larger project.

Previously, he had made no written mention of this, but it is clear that he put great thought into the project, evidenced by a letter that he wrote to his friend Nikita Morozoff on March 19, 1906, which gives a

"scene-by-scene" outline.


The letter also requests that his friend contact Mikhail Svobodin, a journalist known for poetry, and ask him to write the libretto.

Svobodin did not respond.

Morozoff attempted to write some.

Rachmaninoff rejected his work in favor of another friend, Mikhail Slonoff.

Slonoff worked for a few weeks.

Rachmaninoff was never satisfied.

On May 24, S. R. wrote to Slonoff reporting that he was unable to compose anything.

A few days after the letter, Rachmaninoff's wife and daughter became sick and the project was terminated.


Rachmaninoff was still eager to produce an opera, and in 1908 worked on another called Monna Vanna, but it was left unfinished, and he did not complete another opera during his life.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Harrison, Max (2006). Rachmaninoff: Life, Works, Recordings. London: Continuum. pp. 128, 141. ISBN 0-8264-9312-2. 
2. ^ Bertensson, Sergei; Jay Leyda (2001). Sergei Rachmaninoff: A Lifetime in Music. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. pp. 117–20. ISBN 0-253-21421-1. 
3. ^ Geoffrey, Norris (1972). "Tantalizing Torso". The Musical Times.  |accessdate= requires |url= (help)

[show] v t e Sergei Rachmaninoff Operas Aleko The Miserly Knight Francesca da Rimini Salammbô Monna Vanna Symphonies Symphony No. 1 in D minor Symphony No. 2 in E minor Symphony No. 3 in A minor The Bells (choral symphony) Youth Symphony Concertos Piano Concerto No. 1 in F♯ minor Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Orchestra works Scherzo in D minor Suite in D minor Prince Rostislav The Rock Isle of the Dead Symphonic Dances Vocal music All-Night Vigil Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Spring The Bells Three Russian Songs Vocalise Chamber music Trio élégiaque No. 1 Trio élégiaque No. 2 Cello Sonata in G minor Piano music Morceaux de fantaisie (includes Prelude in C♯ minor) Morceaux de salon Six moments musicaux Variations on a Theme of Chopin 10 Preludes Piano Sonata No. 1 in D minor 13 Preludes Études-Tableaux Piano Sonata No. 2 in B♭ minor Variations on a Theme of Corelli Polka de W.R. Russian Rhapsody Suite 1 for two pianos Suite 2 for two pianos Étude in F♯ major Lento in D minor Four Pieces Three Nocturnes Piece (Canon) in D minor Prelude in F major Four Improvisations Morceau de Fantaisie in G minor Fughetta in F major Three Pieces Miscellaneous Related articles List of compositions by Sergei Rachmaninoff Youth Rimsky-Korsakov Tchaikovsky Romanticism Category:Sergei Rachmaninoff Portal:Classical music

      

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