Summary Stanislav Moniuszko


Stanislav Moniuszko

1819-1872

Moniuszko – the founder of Polish opera classics – left a vast legacy. He wrote about three hundred songs, cantatas, works for symphonic orchestra, piano and other compositions. Works of Moniuszko are characterized by simplicity and cordiality, an abundance of beautiful, full expressiveness and poetic melodies. In his music, permeated with elements of Polish folk songs, the features of a national character are accurately grasped.

Stanislav Moniuszko was born on May 5, 1819 in the estate of Ubel, not far from Minsk, in the family of a small landowner.

Monyushko went to Berlin in 1837 to complete his musical education, which began in his childhood. Upon his return, he became a church organist in Vilna. By this time, the first experiments of the young composer in the field of musical theater – the opera Ideal, The Lottery (1840) and the vaudeville “Overnight in the Apennines” (1841). In 1847 the opera “Pebbles” was finished. Since that time Moniuszko has worked hard in the field of romance and song. His first collection of “Home Songbook”, published in 1848, as well as the other eleven, received national recognition.

In 1858, after the success of the “Galki” in Warsaw, Moniuszko became the conductor of the opera house there, and soon became a professor at the Conservatory. For “Pebbles” followed by new works – comic opera “The rafter of the forest” (1858), “Countess” (1859), “Verbum nobile” (1860). In 1865 the premiere of the opera “The Enchanted Castle” (“The Last Hall”) was performed and the cantata “Ghosts” (written by A. Mitskevich) was written. The last works – the opera “Pari” (performed in 1869), “Beata” (1872) had no success.

Moniuszko died in Warsaw on June 4, 1872.


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Summary Stanislav Moniuszko