Since long in our country theatrical flourishedart. Buffoons amused people with songs and dances, and also played funny scenes. At the fairs, people called for a booth. And in the squares, roving artists sang, danced and recited, entertaining the audience.
Two branches of art
Theater in Russia in the 18th century developed in two directions. Folk art continued the tradition of buffoon. Performances were held under the open sky or in a special room - a showcase.
The performances of the court theater were for the first timedocumented during the reign of Mikhail Romanov - the ancestor of this dynasty on the Russian throne. The initiator of the new entertainment was the boyar Artamon Matveyev. This man did a lot for the Russian statehood. He was the head of the Ambassadorial Order - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the time. Artamon Matveyev often traveled abroad. He was deeply fascinated by the culture of many countries and tried to instill in Russia some European traditions. Artamon Matveyev is considered the first Westerner.
Founder of drama and directing
Theater in Russia in the 18th century would not take place withoutthis multifaceted person. On his instructions, a professional troupe was organized. And the first play shown in Russia was the biblical story about Artaxerxes. For the royal entertainment was built a separate room. The sovereign liked the show, and its author was generously rewarded. So who was the first Russian playwright and director? History has kept his name. This is the German Johann Gregory who lived in Moscow.
New entertainment took hold very quickly. Theaters worked in many rich houses of the time. Actors were both free people and serfs.
Great age
Theater in Russia in the 18th century is associated with the name of PeterFirst. During his reign, art flourished. Peter often invited foreign tour companies to Russia. They not only showed new performances, but also carried progressive ideas, inspiring Russian authors. Peter built a theater in Red Square. It was later destroyed.
The theater in Russia in the 18th century was developing not only inMoscow, but also in St. Petersburg. At the court of Anna Ivanovna opened an institution with Russian actors. Plays for him wrote the famous playwright Alexander Sumarokov.
Further development
Under Elizabeth Petrovna, so-called imperial theaters appeared. These government agencies existed at the expense of the treasury. The director of the Imperial Theater on Vasilyevsky Island was Sumarokov.
The 18th century theater in Russia continued its development inthe reign of Catherine the Second. At her court worked several professional troupes. Italian opera singers held a special position. Worked and Russian drama troupe. During this period, the theater ceased to be purely palace entertainment. In the city opened public places of entertainment, in which worked both Russian and foreign artists.
Creativity Ivan Dmitrevsky
18th century theater in Russia knows the names of famousentrepreneurs: Titova, Belmonti, Medox. At this time, landlord troupe continued to exist in the provinces, where serf artists play. A wonderful actor was Ivan Dmitrevsky. He made an outstanding career. In the first professional Russian Volkov troupe, a young Dmitrevsky played female roles. Later he became the main actor of the imperial theater on Vasilyevsky Island. For advanced training, Catherine II sent Dmitrevsky abroad. In Paris, he studied the game of the famous tragedian Lequen, and in London watched performances with the participation of the great Garrick. Returning to Petersburg, Dmitrevsky opened a theatrical school. Later he became the chief inspector of the imperial entertainment establishments.
Main development trends
Theater in the 18th century in Russia can be brieflycharacterize as classicist. This trend dominated Europe in the 17th century. In the subsequent period, classicism was replaced by more democratic works of the Enlightenment. Russian art of the 18th century to rationality, the genre hierarchy and strict canons. Theatrical plays were strictly divided into tragedies and comedies. Their mixing was not allowed.
Театр и музыка 18 века в России были неразрывно connected. Opera has become perhaps the most popular entertainment. Italian singers appeared at the court of Anna Ioannovna. The first libretto in Russian was written by Alexander Sumarokov. Classic opera, as well as drama, is subject to strict separation of genres. Tragic works were composed in the Italian tradition and were distinguished by sublime music. The comedies, considered a secondary genre, were connected with the Russian traditions of the fair showcase. Distinctive features of such funny operas are conversational dialogues and song musical numbers. Works for the theater were written by composers Sokolovsky, Pashkevich, Bortnyansky. The operas were performed in French and Russian.
New trends
The theater of 18-19 centuries in Russia developed in line withthe Enlightenment. In 1782, Denis Fonvizin’s comedy, “Minorish,” saw the scene. The satire on contemporary Russian society was first shown so talented by the author. The types of the upper class of the time Fonvizin described with remarkable accuracy. Malicious Prostakova, her stupid husband and son Mitrofanushka brought the author lifetime glory. The wise discourse of Starodum about honor and dignity and today excites the audience. Despite the conventionality of the characters, they have sincerity and expressiveness. Fonvizin's play was read by Pushkin, Gogol and other writers. She is admired by many generations of viewers. "Thinner" and today occupies an honorable place in the repertoire of the leading theaters of the country. This work is written in gold letters in the history of Russian literature.
