[Manuscript music] La Nuit de St. Sylvestre. (opèra proverbe en un acte paroles du Conte Sollohub, musique de Charles Lewy)

Bookseller Notes

An apparently unpublished work from the composer Charles (Karl) Lewy, (1823-1883), who later in his career became a mainstay of the musical life of Vienna, and the writer, Vladimir Sollogub, an aristocratic member of St. Petersburg high society, close friend of Pushkin, the painter Prince Gagarin and Tolstoy, librettist of 'Undina' (later used by Tchaikovsky for his opera), and central to the artistic salons and cultural life of St. Petersburg. Behind this work lies the notable figure of Anton Rubinstein, celebrated pianist and composer, and favourite of the Imperial family (he had performed for Tsar Nicholas I at the Winter Palace at the age of 14), who, with the help of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, founded the highly influential Russian Musical Society in St. Petersburg in 1859, an organisation which heralded a period of rich musical life within the city, responsible for regular symphonic and chamber concerts with frequently adventurous programming. It is, therefore, no surprise, that Rubinstein may well have approached the somewhat obscure Lewy, a friend since childhood (in Berlin), dedicatee of his second piano concerto, and fellow lodger when he first arrived in the city, to provide a score for his programme of concerts. (Pursglove, V.A. Sollogub and High Society, 1998; Taylor, Rubinstein, 2007)The tone of the libretto, featuring a love-struck couple on New Year's Eve, is reflected in the musical style - suspenseful violin staccato accompaniment, dramatic use of timpani, extreme dynamics, touches of chromaticism and rapid key changes - one of the pencil inscriptions, perhaps in Lewy's hand, hinting at the effort involved: 'je suis mort en le maudi (?) [cursed] d'art!'