Biography and history of opera of Gulak-Artemovsky

Renata Babak's opera productions Gulak-Artemovsky  Zaporozhets beyond the Danube Eugene Onegin Other productions Concerts American Music Queen of Spades Concert 2003

Biography of
Ukrainian opera singer, composer Gulak-Artemovsky (1813-1873)
16 February 2003 was the 190th Anniversary
of the birth of Gulak-Artemovsky

Semion Gulak-Artemovsky was born 16 february 1813 near Kiev,
Ukraine.He studied first with composer Glinka and
later finished his education as a singer in Italy.
For 22 yars, he was principal soloist of the Mariinsky Opera in St.Peterburg and he performed
on the stage of the Bolshoi Opera for two years.
His repertoire included over 50 roles.

Students of University of Music and Art of city Lugansk, Ukraine performed opera of Gulak-Artemovsky, 12/20/2002

His major roles were: Ruslan in "Ruslan and Ludmila"
by Glinka, Muzetto in "Giovanni" by Mozart, Antonio
in "Linda Shamuni" by Donizetti,count de Luna in "Il Trovatore"
and Ivan Karas in his own opera,"Zaporozhets beyond the Danube".
A marvelous opera singer, Gulak-Artemovsky also performed as a stage
actor and showed his magnificent talent
especially in comedy.
His acting was compared favorably with that of the great actor
Tchepkin. Gulak-Artemovsky began composing in 1850.
He composed songs, art songs, vaudeville, music for drama,and the
first Ukranian comic opera "Zaporozhets beyond th Danube".
The first performance of this opera was on the stage
of the Mariinsky Opera in St.Perterburg on 14 May 1863.
It was a great success and now many opera houses have his opera
in their repertoire.

The first performance of first Ukrainian opera
was on 14 May 1863.

Comic opera "Zaporozhets beyond Danube"
by Ukrainian composer Gulak-Artemovsky.

Libretto

Act I

The action takes place in Turkey. In the 18 centery the Ukrainian republic named "Zaporozhian Seech" has been destroyed and part of population of Ukraine fled   to escape of a slavery across the Danube. It is not easy to leave abroad. In front of the Karas's house, his daughter Oksana is longing for her fiansee Andrey. She is dreaming of returning to her country.The tipsy Karas is anxious about meeting his wife. But he can not escape it. He has to explain his behaviour. Ukrainian composer Gulak-Artemovsky wrote this scene between Odarka and Karas with a great humor and  duet of Odarka and Karas became one of the popular duets in concert performances.