Since ancient times, theatrical art flourished in our country . The buffoons amused the people with songs and dances, and also played funny scenes. At fairs, the booths were inviting the people. And in the squares, wandering 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 buffoons. Performances were held in the open air or in a special room - a booth.
The performances of the court theater were first documented 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 Matveev. This man has done a lot for Russian statehood. He was the head of the Ambassadorial order - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that time. Artamon Matveev often traveled abroad. He was deeply passionate about the culture of many countries and tried to instill in Russia some European traditions. Artamon Matveev is considered the first Westerner.
Founder of dramaturgy and direction
A theater in Russia in the 18th century would not have been possible without this multifaceted person. On his behalf, a professional troupe was organized. And the first play shown in Russia was the biblical story of Artaxerxes. A separate room was built for royal entertainment. The sovereign liked the performance, and its author was generously awarded. So who was the first Russian playwright and director? History retained his name. This is a German living in Moscow Johann Gregory.
New entertainment took root very quickly. Many rich houses of the time had theaters. The actors were both free people and serfs.
Great era
The theater in Russia in the 18th century is associated with the name of Peter the Great. During his reign, art flourished. Peter often invited foreign tour companies to Russia. They not only showed new performances, but also carried innovative ideas, inspiring Russian authors. Peter built a theater on Red Square. It was later destroyed.
Theater in Russia in the 18th century developed not only in Moscow, but also in St. Petersburg. At the court of Anna Ioannovna, an institution with Russian actors was opened. The plays for him were written by the famous playwright Alexander Sumarokov.
Further development
Under Elizaveta Petrovna the so-called imperial theaters appeared. These government agencies existed at the expense of the treasury. The director of the imperial theater on Vasilievsky Island was Sumarokov.
The 18th century theater in Russia continued its development during the reign of Catherine the Great. At her court, several professional troupes worked. A special position was occupied by Italian opera singers. The Russian drama troupe also worked. During this period, the theater ceased to be purely palace entertainment. Public entertainment venues were opened in the city, in which both Russian and foreign artists worked.
Creativity of Ivan Dmitrevsky
The 18th-century theater in Russia knows the names of famous entrepreneurs: Titov, Belmonty, Medox. At this time, landowner troupes continued to exist in the provinces, where serf artists played. A wonderful actor was Ivan Dmitrevsky. He has made an outstanding career. In the first professional Russian troupe of Volkov, young Dmitrevsky played female roles. Later, he became the main actor of the imperial theater on Vasilyevsky Island. For advanced training, Catherine the Second sent Dmitrevsky abroad. In Paris, he studied the game of the famous tragedian Leken, and in London he watched performances with the participation of the great Garrick. Returning to St. Petersburg, Dmitrevsky opened a theater school. He later became the chief inspector of imperial entertainment facilities.
Key Development Trends
The theater in the 18th century in Russia can be briefly described as classicist. This trend dominated Europe in the 17th century. In the subsequent period, classicism was replaced by more democratic creativity of the Enlightenment. Russian art of the 18th century gravitated to rationality, genre hierarchy and strict canons. Theatrical plays were strictly divided into tragedies and comedies. Their mixing was not allowed.
Theater and music of the 18th century in Russia were inextricably linked. 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. The classicist opera, like drama, gravitated toward a strict separation of genres. Tragic works were composed in Italian traditions and were distinguished by sublime music. Comedies, considered a secondary genre, were associated with Russian traditions of the fair booth. Distinctive features of such fun 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 18-19th century theater in Russia developed in line with the Enlightenment. In 1782, Denis Fonvizin’s comedy “Undergrowth” saw the scene. Satire on contemporary Russian society was first shown so talented by the author. Fonvizin described the types of the upper class of that time with amazing accuracy. The evil Prostakova, her stupid husband and son Mitrofanushka brought the author lifetime glory. Starodum’s wise reasoning about honor and dignity excites the audience today. Despite the conventions of the characters, they have sincerity and expressiveness. The play of Fonvizin was read by Pushkin, Gogol and other writers. She has been admired by many generations of viewers. "Undergrowth" and today occupies an honorable place in the repertoire of the country's leading theaters. This work is written in gold letters in the history of Russian literature.