The Mighty Kuchka
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A Biographical Novel of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. 

AVAILABLE NOW!


 Rimsky-Korsakov.jpg                  
            Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Statue, St. Petersburg, Russia




World Famous Opera House, The Mariinski Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia




                  Interior model of the Mariiansky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia.

" THE MIGHTY KUCHKA "


Teen prodigy NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV is brought by his piano teacher to the home of composer and music instructor MILI BALAKRIEV (antagonist) who recognizes the talent of the young man immediately. Mili's quest is to intentionally deprive his pupils of the musical knowledge of Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and Europeans in order that his circle of composers would write pure Russian Music without outside influence. After a tour with the Russian Navy to New York City, Rio de Janerio a few Mediterranean ports, Nikolai returns to St. Petersburg as a mature Naval Officer and rejoins Mili's circle of five composers which include MODEST MOUSSORGSKY, ALEXANDER BORODIN and CAESAR CUI. After awhile, Modest, Alexander and Nikolai realize they have been categorized as pupils by Mili and feel a certain coolness as they grow more independent.  Nicolai has written his first two symphonies and the Opera Sadko.


Nikolai falls in love with NADEZHDA a talented pianist, they get married and travel to many romantic spots in Europe on their honeymoon. Nadezhda is a wonderful influence on Nikolai's music. PETER TCHAIKOVSKI becomes their friend and visits the couple occasionally when in St. Petersburg. One day Nadezhda sees Nikolai in tears claiming "Everything I have composed is wrong!" "I have wasted my life with Mili Balakriev." Nikolai realizes that he has been deprived of the knowledge of the European Masters. Nikolai feeling betrayed suffers a complete nervous breakdown.  . ..

Peter Tchaikovski credits Nadzhda with nursing Nikolai back to health. Now stronger than ever he completes more than 20 Operas. The Suites, Sheherazade, The Easter Overture, Capriccio Espagnol are on repertoires around the world. Nicolai teaches his own group of pupils which include the younger ALEXANDER GLAZANOV and IGOR STRAVINSKY.

 

SAMPLE CHAPTERS.

CHAPTER XXIII

                                                                            
                                                                            CAPRICCIO ESPAGNOL

 

 

REHEARAL OF THE SPANISH CAPRICCIO, featuring a new work by Rimsky-Korsakov.

The work of the first movement is introduced by Nikolai and he speaks to the orchestra.

“This work called Capriccio Espagnol will allow you to exercise each instrument in the orchestra, shall we give it a try?

Those in the orchestra appear very interested.

“Yes? All right let’s go.”

Nikolai at the podium, the orchestra hears the tic, tic of the baton.

The orchestra plays Capriccio Espagnol and partially through the first

movement, abruptly stops. Nikolai looks down for a moment to see members of the orchestra not playing, but rather standing and clapping until everyone stops and gives Nikolai a standing ovation.

Nikolai, turns around, blushes and freely admits”

“Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I will therefore dedicate Capriccio Espagnol to the orchestra.”

 

CHAPTER XXIX


THE CZAR

 


IMPERIAL PALACE. The Censor has an audience with the Czar of Russia.

“Your Majesty, I have banned Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera Christmas Eve as it is about Catherine the Great. I wish he would stop writing operas about the Imperial Family.”

“Does he portray the family as unscrupulous?” asks the Czar.

“Not directly, however in Austria the censors have censored Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro as poking fun at and embarrassing nobility. Look what happened in France? Austria wants no part in public unrest and I am sure neither does Russia.”

“Count Voronstov has read the libretto and has assured me that there is nothing I would find objectionable in this opera.”

“But, but..” the censor stammers:

“Dispatch a messenger right away to Rimsky-Korsakov indicating that I have granted permission for admitting the opera Christmas Eve composed by you to be produced on the Imperial Stage without any change in the libretto.”

The censor turns red and is embarrassed, as if he just got a slap in the face.

“Yes, Your majesty.”

The Czar smiles, and says”

“That will be my Christmas gift to one of Russia’s great composers.”

The documents are dated December 31, 1894 and January 12, 1895 and are in the possession of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's family, as authorized by Czar Nicholas II.

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Mariinski Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia

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