Music and politics with Rimsky-Korsakov and John Adams

Synopsis

On today’s date in 1909, “The Golden Cockerel,” the last opera of the Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, had its premiere in Moscow. Rimsky-Korsakov had died the previous year, after a bitter battle with government censors who objected to the opera’s thinly disguised satire against the bumbling administration of Czarist Russia. For the premiere, the censors won – the opera was performed with all the changes that Rimsky-Korsakov had so stubbornly resisted while alive.

The original text was not restored until after the Russian revolution of 1917.

Closer to our own time, in October of 1987, American composer John Adam’s “Nixon in China,” debuted at Houston Grand Opera. Alice Goodman’s libretto depicts the historic visit to Red China of President Nixon and then Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger. Adams says he was completely indifferent to what the real-life personages in his opera might have thought of it.

No government censors objected, in any case, but Adams said that Richard Nixon’s lawyer, Leonard Garment, did attend a performance of “Nixon in China,” and probably reported back to the former President. Nixon’s reaction is not known – nor that of Henry Kissinger. We’re happy to report, however, that according to John Adams, Leonard Garment did subsequently became something of a fan of his music.

Music Played in Today's Program

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908): The Golden Cockerel Suite –Russian National Orchestra; Mikhail Pletnev, cond. (DG 447 084)

John Adams (b. 1947): The Chairman Dances –San Francisco Symphony; Edo de Waart, cond. (Nonesuch 79453)

On This Day

Births

• 1746 - American composer of hymns, anthems, and "fuging tunes," William Billings, in Boston;

Deaths

• 1918 - English composer Sir Hubert Parry, age 70, at Knight's Croft, Rustington (Sussex);

Premieres

• 1893 - Gilbert & Sullivan: operetta "Utopia Unlimited," at the Savoy Theatre in London;

• 1905 - Victor Herbert: operetta "Mlle. Modiste," in Trenton, N.J.;

• 1909 - Rimsky-Korsakov: opera "The Golden Cockerel," posthumously, in Moscow at the Solodovnikov Theater, Emil Cooper conducting (Julian date: Sept. 24);

• 1951 - Lukas Foss: Piano Concerto No. 2, in Venice, with the composer as soloist;

• 1955 - Milhaud: Symphony No. 6, by the Boston Symphony with the composer conducting;

• 1956 - Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 6, in Leningrad, by the Beethoven Quartet;

• 1961 - Henry Cowell: Symphony No. 15 ("Thesis"), in Murray, Ky., by the Louisville Orchestra, Robert Whitney conducting;

• 1963 - José Serebrier: "Poema Elegiaco," by the American Symphony Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski conducting;

• 1976 - Del Tredici: "Final Alice," in Chicago, with soprano Barbara Hendricks and the Chicago Symphony conducted by Sir Georg Solti;

• 1983 - Arvo Pärt: "If Bach Had Raised Bees" for harpsichord, electric bass guitar, tape and ensemble, in Graz, Austria;

• 1994 - Daniel Asia: "Gateways" for orchestra, by the Cincinnati Symphony, Herrman Michael conducting;

• 2000 - Jake Heggie: opera "Dead Man Walking," at the San Francisco Opera, Patrick Summers conducting.