Text a the father of russian music

“The more years elapse since Glinka's time, the more distinct, in retrospect, becomes the majestic image of the father of Russian classical music, whose radiant genius illuminated the path for our national musical development. Like Pushkin, his work had accumulated and summed up the immense and varied experience of Russian folk art, and like Pushkin, he turned a fine new page in the history of Russia's national art and culture”. These words written by Dmitry Shostakovich 30 years ago remain significant to this day.

Almost two centuries have passed since June 1, 1804, when a person destined to become the father and head of a magnificent phenomenon called Russian music was born in the village Novospasskoye near Smolensk. His great operas “Ruslan and Ludmila” and “Ivan Susanin” have stood the test of time to become the pride both of national and world opera.

I have had the good fortune to play the title roles in both operas, the dream of every Russian bass singer. “Ruslan and Ludmila” is a fine blend of great music and great verse. Set to Glinka's music, Pushkin's poetry acquired new colours and over­tones. For me, Ruslan is not only a legendary hero, a courageous Russian warrior with a tender spot for his beloved Ludmila, but also a symbol of valour and patriotism.

“Ivan Susanin” is based on a true story. I began singing this part just after the war, when this country was healing its deep wounds, and recovering from the devastation of the war. I remember reading a feature story by Boris Polevoi, published in “Pravda” at the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War, about 80-years-old Matvei Kuzmin, who chose to die rather than betray his homeland, exactly like his forerunner Ivan Susanin had done. Matvei Kuzmin led the enemy into an ambush and was killed on the spot. Perhaps, there were more cases like this during the last war, for the strength of the Russian character shows itself most gloriously at times of peril. Both Ivan Susanin's and Matvei Kusmin's heroic deeds were deliberate. Is it not an example of the great continuity of patriotic feelings and the nation's noble ideals? While working on Susanin’s part I realized I should present him as a carrier of eternal human values.

We all owe Glinka a debt of gratitude for opening the stage to a popular spirit, for bringing common people into the focus of drama as true history-makers. To quote our prominent art critic V. Stasov, “true art can only be found where people act as dramatic personae and feel at ease at that”.

I remember singing Susanin's last aria during a concert tour in Paris. I felt my audience was genuinely moved by Glinka's clear and heart-breaking melody. Indeed, it is impossible not to understand and appreciate this composition. Everything Glinka wrote came from his nation's emotional richness.

Glinka's work is unique in the sense that he was the first Russian composer to become a true connoisseur of national folklore and professional music. His inspired variations on borrowed themes as well as his original creativity have laid the foundation for Russian classical music. As a realist, he considered it his mission to make every human heart aware of the greatness of art and the importance of culture.

Ivan Petrov,

People's Artist of the USSR,

Winner of the USSR State Prizes