Opera “Nose”, D. Shostakovich

“Nose” is the first opera of Dmitry Shostakovich, written in 1927-1928 on the story of the same name by Nikolai Gogol. According to the composer himself, he chose the story “Nose” because it made it possible to create satire for the era of Nicholas I. “Music in this performance does not play a self-sufficient role,” Shostakovich wrote. – Here is the emphasis on the presentation of the text. I will add that the music does not wear deliberately parody coloring. No! Despite all the comedy on the stage, the music is not comic. I think this is correct, since Gogol sets out all comic incidents in a serious tone. This is the strength and dignity of Gogol’s humor. He is not sharp. Music also tries not to poke fun. ”

The premiere of the opera Nose took place on January 18, 1930 at the Maly Opera House. Having received many unfriendly reviews from critics, the work was shown sixteen times during the year, and then removed from the repertoire. After the publication of the score “Nose” in 1962 in Vienna, opera began to be staged in various foreign theaters. Only in 1974, the opera Nose was again staged in the USSR, on the stage of the Moscow Chamber Musical Theater under the direction of Gennady Rozhdestvensky. Then, after a 30-year hiatus, the opera was staged at the Mariinsky Theater. On the stage of foreign theaters, the work of Dmitry Shostakovich continues to enjoy continued success. Continue reading →