Mamontov's Moscow Private Opera was a theater that brought together representatives of the various arts: composers (Rimsky-Korsakov and Rachmaninoff) and artists (Polenov, the brothers Viktor, Apollinaris Vasnetsov, Korovin, Serov, and Vrubel). Such actors as Chaliapin and Zabela-Vrubel started their career at the Private Opera before making it to the big stage. The private opera in particular gave birth to a school of Russian opera directing and a method for training actor-singers, which was later developed and refined by Constantin Stanislavski.
According to his contemporaries, in the last few years of his life, the composer, Rachmaninoff, said: "Yes, Mamontov was a great man and had a great influence on Russian opera. In some respects, the impact of Mamontov was like Stanislavski's influence on drama."
Later, when in 1870 Mamontov bought the Aksakov estate in Abramtsevo, he was able to bring together all of the leading artists of the time: first Polenov, Repin, and then members of the younger generation, including the young Serov, Levitan, the brothers Korovin, and later others, including Vrubel and Golovin. Golovin would later recall: "Mamontov was able to start a theater in his own house, in which certain young artists (for example, Serov and Korovin) participated not only as decorators, but also as artists."
Before the emergence of the Private Opera in the history of theater, major decorators and artists were less actively involved in preparing performances, since there was a rule in force at that time in the Imperial Theaters that decorators were not allowed to work on the set designs for Russian operas. They were forced to make do with what other work they could find. Therefore, images of tropical forests, Chinese pavilions and marble colonnades were often used as set decorations for Russian fairy tale scenes.
At first, for a long time, Mamontov was unable to find a venue for his theater. Then, the entrepreneur Fyodor Korsch agreed to rent out his theater (Lianozov) on Gazetny pereulok. Initially, the Private Opera was called the "Krotkov Theater" in honor of the composer and conductor who worked with Mamontov to assemble a troupe of actors and later came to head it.
The grand opening was held on January 9, 1885. Dargomyzhsky's "Rusalka" was presented to the public. The stage designer was Viktor Vasnetsov with landscape scenery by Isaac Levitan. The production received mixed reviews from the public. Some thought that the staging was the product of a merchant's high-handed whim, but there were also others who appreciated the innovation of the performance and the forethought that went into all of the details of the production.
Korsh had built a new building for his theater (which is now a branch of the Moscow Art Theater) by the beginning of the second season, so the old building could be transferred completely for the use of the Private Opera but, over time, the theater moved again to Bolshaya Dmitrovka, to a huge building built by the merchant Solodovnikov. For the large sum that Mamontov paid, he promised to transform it into a 2,000-seat theater.
In 1897, the young Rachmaninoff joined the theater so, for the first time in the history of the Private Opera, Mamontov had to address the question of the role of the conductor in the artistic-synthetic conception of opera. It should be noted that, before Rachmaninoff, only foreigners were conductors. However, he was unable to be a conductor for long: the autumn theater season of 1898 opened without him. During the following year, first, Chaliapin left the theater for the Bolshoi Theater, and then shortly afterwards the artist, Korovin, and the director, Melnikov, left. Just as Mamontov's Opera was losing its pupils, it sustained another blow: Savva Mamontov’s arrest on September 11, 1899. His former colleagues and members of the First Private Opera spoke in his defense. Polenov wrote an appeal and collected the signatures of many artists: "All of us, your friends, remembering the happy times past, when we were able to live in harmony, united and happy in the artistic atmosphere of the affable circle of your family centered around you – all of us in these difficult days of your adversity want to express in some way our concern for you..."
Constantin Stanislavski, who frequently visited Mamontov during this period, said that, during his house arrest, Savva Mamontov was unable to drag himself away from art.
Though Mamontov was vindicated, he was unable to regain his financial position. Mamontov was forced to return the missing 100,000 rubles to the cashier, so his house on Sadovaya-Spasskaya was sold to raise funds.
After this event, the theater survived on its own for a further five years. The last performance was on April 11, 1904, after which the theater was completely liquidated. Today, this building is the location for the Moscow Operetta Theater.
According to his contemporaries, in the last few years of his life, the composer, Rachmaninoff, said: "Yes, Mamontov was a great man and had a great influence on Russian opera. In some respects, the impact of Mamontov was like Stanislavski's influence on drama."
Later, when in 1870 Mamontov bought the Aksakov estate in Abramtsevo, he was able to bring together all of the leading artists of the time: first Polenov, Repin, and then members of the younger generation, including the young Serov, Levitan, the brothers Korovin, and later others, including Vrubel and Golovin. Golovin would later recall: "Mamontov was able to start a theater in his own house, in which certain young artists (for example, Serov and Korovin) participated not only as decorators, but also as artists."
Before the emergence of the Private Opera in the history of theater, major decorators and artists were less actively involved in preparing performances, since there was a rule in force at that time in the Imperial Theaters that decorators were not allowed to work on the set designs for Russian operas. They were forced to make do with what other work they could find. Therefore, images of tropical forests, Chinese pavilions and marble colonnades were often used as set decorations for Russian fairy tale scenes.
At first, for a long time, Mamontov was unable to find a venue for his theater. Then, the entrepreneur Fyodor Korsch agreed to rent out his theater (Lianozov) on Gazetny pereulok. Initially, the Private Opera was called the "Krotkov Theater" in honor of the composer and conductor who worked with Mamontov to assemble a troupe of actors and later came to head it.
The grand opening was held on January 9, 1885. Dargomyzhsky's "Rusalka" was presented to the public. The stage designer was Viktor Vasnetsov with landscape scenery by Isaac Levitan. The production received mixed reviews from the public. Some thought that the staging was the product of a merchant's high-handed whim, but there were also others who appreciated the innovation of the performance and the forethought that went into all of the details of the production.
Korsh had built a new building for his theater (which is now a branch of the Moscow Art Theater) by the beginning of the second season, so the old building could be transferred completely for the use of the Private Opera but, over time, the theater moved again to Bolshaya Dmitrovka, to a huge building built by the merchant Solodovnikov. For the large sum that Mamontov paid, he promised to transform it into a 2,000-seat theater.
In 1897, the young Rachmaninoff joined the theater so, for the first time in the history of the Private Opera, Mamontov had to address the question of the role of the conductor in the artistic-synthetic conception of opera. It should be noted that, before Rachmaninoff, only foreigners were conductors. However, he was unable to be a conductor for long: the autumn theater season of 1898 opened without him. During the following year, first, Chaliapin left the theater for the Bolshoi Theater, and then shortly afterwards the artist, Korovin, and the director, Melnikov, left. Just as Mamontov's Opera was losing its pupils, it sustained another blow: Savva Mamontov’s arrest on September 11, 1899. His former colleagues and members of the First Private Opera spoke in his defense. Polenov wrote an appeal and collected the signatures of many artists: "All of us, your friends, remembering the happy times past, when we were able to live in harmony, united and happy in the artistic atmosphere of the affable circle of your family centered around you – all of us in these difficult days of your adversity want to express in some way our concern for you..."
Constantin Stanislavski, who frequently visited Mamontov during this period, said that, during his house arrest, Savva Mamontov was unable to drag himself away from art.
Though Mamontov was vindicated, he was unable to regain his financial position. Mamontov was forced to return the missing 100,000 rubles to the cashier, so his house on Sadovaya-Spasskaya was sold to raise funds.
After this event, the theater survived on its own for a further five years. The last performance was on April 11, 1904, after which the theater was completely liquidated. Today, this building is the location for the Moscow Operetta Theater.
