DARGOMIZHSKY, Alexander Sergeivitch
b Troitskoye, Tula district, 14 February 1813
d St Petersburg, 17 January 1869, aged fifty-five

The son of a government official, he was educated at St Petersburg, studying violin and piano He worked in the Civil Service from 1831 to 1843 while teaching himself musical theory from books. A meeting with Glinka in 1844 made him decide to devote his time to composition, and he became a pioneer of the Russian Nationalist School. His travels took him all over Europe until 1864, when he retired to St Petersburg to write.

1847 (34)

Esmeralda, opera (possibly c1839)

1856 (43)

fp Rusalka, opera

1861-3 (48-50)

Baba-Yaga, fantasy for orchestra

1867 (54)

The Triumph of Bacchus, opera-ballet Performed posthumously:

1872 The Stone Guest, opera (completed by Cui, orchestrated by Rimsky-Korsakov, qv)

Dargomizhsky also composed: About ninety songs Fifteen vocal duets Tarentelle Slav. for piano, four hands Finnish Fantasy Kosachok, Ukrainian dance The Dance of the Mummers