Music and theatre in Kazan

Now we are standing at the Liberty Square. There is Opera and Ballet theatre in front of us.

And Concert hall to the left of us. Before entering the theatre let’s listen the history of theatre and music of Kazan.

Clergy school, which was situated in the Fedorovsky monastery on the place of nowadays National cultural center gave birth to the theatres in Kazan. In 1728 pupils of the school began to make performances according to the Bible. The pupils of the first Kazan boys’ school continued this tradition. There in 1760 the school director Verevkin organized first theatre group. In 1767 one of the spectators of the school performance was Catherine the Great. In 1791 when Paul I came to Kazan he watched the performance, made in Governor’s palace by landlord P.Yessipov along with his actors.

Idea about creation of the professional theatre emerged that very time. First city theatre was opened in 1791. In 1802-1804 Yessipov built wooden theatre on the place of the nowadays Opera and Ballet theatre. The theatre existed 10 years and after the death of Yessipov it was dismantled and the performances were made in private mansions. In 1833 the theatre was rebuilt on the place of the nowadays Liberty square. It suffered numerous fires and was reconstructed several times. At last there new theatre was built of brick. They say it was the third one after Odessa and Warsaw theatres.

It was written in the newspapers, that Kazan has capital theatre, provincial theatre and Kazan theatre. Kazan theatre gave birth to many famous actors of the Russian theatre, who later worked in capital stage. Particularly, in 1836 Schepkin staged “Revizor” performance and played a part of governor.

The gatherer of the Russian stage in Kazan was P.Medvedev, who managed theatrical matters since 1867. In August, 26, 1874 Kazan theatre for the first time performed Ivan Susanin opera by Glinka. New theatre building existed till 1919 when it was burned to ashes by fire.

At the beginning of the century theatre life in the city was very active. Drama performances were made in New Club – nowadays Tinchurin theatre. Miniature theatre appeared in Bauman street and Alafuzov theatre appeared in Zarechye. In 1913 Rozenberg cinema house was reconstructed for theatre building. Today it is Kachalov theatre.

City drama theatre moved to the Bauman street and New Club was given to opera performances made by Kazan musiс society. In Panaev garden Serebrenikov constructed theatre with rotating stage and electricity illumination. Kazan music society performed Tchaikovsky “Eugeny Onegin” opera. And at that very place Fedor Shalyapin entered the stage for the first time. He was noticed and given the part of Zaretsky (second in the duel).

The history of Tatar theatre began with the appearance of the first Tatar theatre troupe in Kazan – “Sayar”, managed by Gabdullah Kariyev. That time all the parts in the plays were performed only by men. The first woman, who dared to break the law and enter the stage, was Sagibjamal Gizzatullina-Volzhskaya, whom Gabdullah Tukay named “The Sun of the Tatar stage”. Kazan was shocked. A woman, who shouldn’t uncover her face, appeared to be on the stage. The Muslim clergy began its protest and 12 mullahs wrote a complaint letter and Tatar theatre was closed till 1920.

Till 1917 theatre didn’t have its own building and was not financed by the state. Firstly the performances were staged in the building of “Sharyk” merchant’s club, which gathered youth and educated people from all over the city. Since 1920 the theatre was situated in three-storey building in Gorky street and in 1986 it moved to new building in Tatarstan street. The theatre was named after Tatar playwright and actor Galiaskar Kamal. On December,22, 1906 Kamal performed his first play – “Kyzganich bala” (Miserable child).

The foundation of the new Opera theatre was laid in 1939. Russian theatre moved to the Bauman street to the building of nowadays Kachalov theatre. First “Faust” opera in Tatar and Zhiganov “Beglets(Runaway)” opera were performed in Opera theatre. Ballet also began its development. Choreographer Tagirov and dancer Akhtyamov came from Moscow. Farid Yarullin created new national ballet “Shurale”. The premiere performance of this ballet was made in 1945 and Akhtyamov played a part of Shurale.

The construction of new building of the Opera theatre was finished in 1956. It was opened by “Altynchech” opera written by Zhiganov. First spectators were the constructors of the theatre. New building of Tatar theatre named after G.Kamal was built in 1986. The old building was given to the Tatar comedy theatre named after its founder Karim Tinchurin.

There are 7 theatres in modern Kazan. Tatar State Academic Theatre named after G.Kamal is situated in Tatarstan street.

Russian Young Spectators Theatre is situated in the building of former New Club. Tatar Young Spectators Theatre is situated in the building of the former National theatre, which was founded by manufacturer Alafuzov in 1900.

In Bauman street we can visit Big Drama Theatre named after Kachalov.

Tatar plays are performed in Tinchurin theatre, children performances are made in Puppet theatre.

Look at the building of Big Concert Hall. Its opening in 1967 promoted the development of music life of the city. The first Head of the conservatoire was Nazib Zhiganov, outstanding composer, teacher and public figure.

We pass Kazan City Hall in Karl Marx street, where since the period of war Kazan citizens could hear the singers from all over Russia. Kazan was the city of Moscow guest artists.

We go further to Zhukovsky street. Here we can see marble plaque to famous Tatar composer, author of the first Tatar musical comedy “Bashmachki (Small shoes)” Dzhaudat Faizi. Then we turn to Zhukovsky street. Here we can see more than 100 years old Musical College named after Aukhodeyev, its director.

Down Galaktionov street we come to Leninsky garden, former Nikolaeyevsky garden, which was famous for its merry-go-rounds, slides and show-booths. Here one hundred twenty years ago after one of the performances young Fedya Shalyapin fell in love with the theatre.