The Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila bursts forth as a rousing, vibrant ensemble that lifted me into a jovial and animated headspace this morning. The frenetic shimmer of the violins evoked the image of a ballroom filled with dancers spinning wildly, yet somehow in perfect harmony. It’s a piece both exhilarating and electric.
Beyond its immediate energy, Ruslan and Lyudmila stands as a landmark in Russian musical history. This opera signaled the dawn of a new era in Russian composition – one that would eventually ripple through the West. By the 20th century, it had become one of the most frequently performed and admired Russian operas in Western opera houses, influencing the global perception of Russian classical music and paving the way for later giants like Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov.
Most of the following was extracted and abridged from the Wikipedia reference below:
Ruslan and Lyudmila (Russian: Руслан и Людмила) is an opera in five acts composed by Mikhail Glinka between 1837 and 1842. The libretto was written by Valerian Shirkov based on the 1820 narrative poem of the same name by Alexander Pushkin. Pushkin had planned to write the libretto himself but died in a duel before he could do so. Today, the best-known music from the opera is its overture which is today’s featured piece.
The premiere took place in Saint Petersburg on 27 November 1842 at the Bolshoi Kamenniy Teatr. The opera has been a mainstay of the Bolshoi, having staged over 700 performances in 9 different productions over the past 165 years. The opera was first performed in the UK on 4 June 1931 at the Lyceum Theatre in London and in the US by Sarah Caldwell’s Opera Company of Boston on 5 March 1977.
Synopsis:
The story begins with the beautiful Lyudmila, daughter of Prince Vladimir, being kidnapped by an evil wizard named Chernomor on her wedding night. Her brave fiancé, Ruslan, sets out on a dangerous journey to rescue her. Along the way, he faces magical challenges, strange lands, and rival suitors who also want to save (or win) Lyudmila. With the help of a good wizard and his own courage, Ruslan defeats Chernomor, rescues Lyudmila, and returns home to marry her. The opera is filled with fantasy, adventure, and Russian folk themes.
Ruslan employs some aspects of Russian folk music; it is also noted for imaginative use of dissonance, chromaticism, and Eastern elements. Of particular consequence is the use of the whole tone scale for the first time in Russian music. The rollicking overture below is one of the best known orchestral showpieces in the West and known for being a nightmare for bassists. Along with its counterpart A Life for the Tsar, this second opera by Glinka confirmed a Russian national operatic foundation that was to be built upon by the next generation of Russian composers. In particular, Ruslan served as the model for Russian operatic fairy tales.
References:
1. Ruslan and Lyudmila (opera) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I believe that is the first classical piece of music I heard by Mikhail Glinka – sounds vibrant and uplifting. Again, classical music isn’t my core expertise, but unlike Glinka, I’ve at heard of other Russian classical composers like Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and Prokofiev.
In fact, one of my fond childhood memories is listening to Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” at my grandpa’s, a music professor and piano teacher who loved classical music. I believe part of my love of music I inherited from him.
I think it was my first by him also. Probably my only one.
I gave ‘Peter and the Wolf’ a go. Did you hear it in German?
I did! I think it may have been the first classical music I ever heard. My grandpa also had many other records with classical music.
It’s a story post also in German set to classical music? I’ll give it another go one day.
I played this in youth orchestra back in the 70s. It was exhilarating!
I love Russian music ~ Russian literature ~ Russian culture. I had a dear friend, Mike, who was a Naval officer who went into the State Department after retiring from the Navy & he was posted in Russia for many years. He was teaching me Russia before he died. Like every other man I have ever known in the Navy, he drank WAY TOO MUCH. He died of a combo of cirrhosis, cancer & COVID. I miss my Mikhail.
Wow, what did you play in the youth orchestra? Yes, this piece is rapturous indeed.
What a coincidence Polly. I too have a Navy background. I’m sorry to read about what happened to your friend. Thanks for reflecting on it here. I share your natural curiosity for Russia. My Mayor was Political Systems at Uni and that largely involved USSR political history. One of my favourite writers is Dostoevsky and has featured here on occasion. Also, one of my favourite composers is Rachmaninoff and he too has appeared here prominently. Cheers, friend.
I played trombone in orchestra. I also used to play the baritone horn. I can also play piano ~ I have a piano, but arthritis is getting in the way of being able to play like I used to.
I was in wind ensemble, marching band, jazz ensemble & orchestra. I also sang in the chorus & church choir.
I love Rachmonioff. My mother used to play him all the time.
I just got “Crime & Punishment” out from the library. Just a few days ago.
I also love Tolstoy. I’ve read “War & Peace” more than once & of course, “Anna Karenina” because I can SO identify. LOL
You were certainly across a lot of musical instruments and a variety of bands and orchestras – you talented so and so! I presume you have musical pedigree in your family. That’s a shame to read how your arthritis has inhibited you from playing the piano like you used to.
My favourite from the Rach is Piano Concerto no 2 Mov 2. That is fascinating you just got ‘Crime and Punishment’ out. I definitely recommend his ‘Brothers Karamazov’ as well. I have not read Tolstoy still! Hmm. I hope I make amends soon.
Cheers Polly.
One of my great-great uncles in Scotland was an opera singer. My great-grandfather’s who immigrated here in 1899 uncle.
My entire family is musical. My father’s mother played piano beautifully & she taught piano. I wish I could have played like she did ~ she had the most beautiful style & touch. That 1920s-30s style of playing.
My mother had the most beautiful soprano you ever heard. She wanted to be an opera singer but of course she went to “teacher’s college” ~ Buffalo State College ~ & she married my father after her freshman year & never finished. But she was singing all the time. She would wake us up in the morning with a song ~ really! I remember my sibling complaining about it when they became teens but I always thought it was cool. To hear her sing “Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day” from Oklahoma! was sheer joy.
My father taught me my first tunes on the piano & he played harmonica ~ a chromatic one ~ & the tuba. He bought a used sousaphone at a pawn shop which was so black with tarnish that it took over a week to clean it off until it was bright silver & sparkling. He was in several bands & my brother Andy, who played trumpet, & I were in some of them with him. When we moved to Rochester, NY, the town in which we lived didn’t have a town band, so he started one ~ he got people from Eastman School of Music to help. He was like Jerry Garcia ~ he just loved to play music. He would make music with anything ~ spoons, glasses with various amounts of water in them, a blade of grass.
All my brothers & sisters play at least one instrument & usually two or three.
My one sister married a concert pianist & my youngest brother has been in numerous bands & has a recording studio in his barn & produces his own CDs & CDs for other people. My older brother’s daughter is a singer/songwriter in Nashville & has several albums.
Yeah, music runs in the family.
You have family ancestry with profound musical acumen. My heritage is partly from Scotland as well. My great grandfather (mum’s side) worked on the St Andrews golf course before emigrating with his wife to Australia. My father’s side is from England. I am not aware if any of them were musical at all. My Grandmother (like yours) was a classical pianist and played as the organist for her local Uniting Church. My mother was / is a great singer as well, but not trained. Like your mother she sang all the time. That’s lovely how yours woke you up by singing. Coincidentally, I also remember my Mother singing “Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day” from Oklahoma! Songs from ‘Sound of Music’ I remember her singing quite often. That movie was a staple in our household lol
Your father seemed like he was a very accomplished artist and you must have fond memories playing in his band. You’ve mention Jerry Garcia a few times but unfortunately it’s not music I’m accustomed to apart the Grateful Dead’s ‘Sugaree’ and ‘Here Comes Sunshine’. Your father sounds like a musical minstrel of sorts (re. experimenting with spoons, glasses ala Tom Waits). Speaking of which, I love that 90’s Grunge masterpiece ‘Spoonman’ by Soundgarden.
I’m staggered frankly that your siblings also play and their offshoots are so prolific even your niece having released several albums. Your family is truly the real musical deal. Almost of Partridge family proportion! Haha.
I’ll tell you something funny about “The Sound of Music”. My grandparents MacDavid took me to see it at Shae’s Buffalo Theatre in downtown Buffalo ~ a historic place, on the National Registry of Historic Places ~ in 1965, when it was showing there & I knew all the songs & as the movie was playing, I sat there & sang along. My grandparents were charmed because they were so into me being a singer but I bet the people sitting around us weren’t! I think about it now ~ that obnoxious little girl, singing all the songs & her grandparents who wouldn’t shut her up! LOL
I’m still impressed at how you can remember with such precision and minute detail.
That’s so cute you were singing in the theatre unfazed by others and how your grandparents just let you keep going. Perhaps they were hoping an agent was in attendance to hear the new Pollyanna or represent a child prodigy ala Shirley Temple. Btw, My mother was a splitting image of Shirley when she was a little sprout. The photos are uncanny!