And e Varlamov interesting facts. Biography

V. was born in 1801, died in 1851. He was brought up in the court singing chapel, under the guidance of the famous Bortnyansky.

He was preparing first for a career as a singer, but due to the weakening of his voice, he had to abandon this idea. Having received a job as a psalmist in the Netherlands, he spent some time abroad, where he continued to study the art of music.

Returning to Russia, from 1832 he was a bandmaster at Moscow theaters, and from 1835 he settled in St. Petersburg and taught singing at various educational institutions.

The beginning of V.'s composing activity dates back to the end of the 1930s. The first nine romances by V. were published in Moscow in 1839 by the music publisher Gresser.

Of these, the following received particular popularity: “Don’t you sew me, mother, a red sundress” and “What has become foggy, clear dawn.” This series of romances also includes: "Understand me", "Here come the regiments of relatives", "Do not make noise", "Oh, it hurts", "Young young woman", "Oh you, youth." Many romances were written by V. in the forties; they were printed by various publishers in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

The well-known "Song of Ophelia", sung by VV Samoilova in the tragedy "Hamlet", was published in 1842 by Gresser in Moscow; "Spanish Serenade" - in 1845 by Bernard, "Love Me Out" - in the same year by Miller, "Sorceress" (1844, edition of the Musical Echo store), "Lone Sail Whitens" - in 1848 by Gresser, etc. Later, all the romances, with a score of 223, were published by Stellovsky in St. Petersburg, in 12 notebooks.

V. tried his hand in the field of sacred music.

He owns the "Cherubim" for eight and four voices (Gresser's edition, 1844). But the author soon realized that the majestic church style, which required strict restraint, did not suit the nature of his talent and his musical technique, which was not particularly developed; he again switched to his favorite forms of song and romance.

V. declared himself as a teacher in his "Complete School of Singing", in three parts, published by Gresser in Moscow in 1840. This school is our first and for its time a wonderful vocal guide.

Now this edition of Gresser is a bibliographic rarity.

Of the three parts, the first, theoretical part, which is a revision of the "Nouvelle methode de chant et de vocalisation" by the Parisian professor Andrade, is less processed.

But on the other hand, the second, practical, was made completely independently, replete with many precious remarks that have not lost their significance even today and expose in the author a great connoisseur of the human voice.

The third part contains ten exercises for voice, with piano accompaniment, and two Russian songs: "Ah, there is more than one path in the field" and "Don't wake me young", arranged for three voices.

Not a single composer withstood as many editions as V. In 1886, a new complete collection of V.'s works, published by his heirs, began to appear in Moscow, at Gutheil's.

N. Solovyov. (Brockhaus) Varlamov, Alexander Egorovich - composer, b. November 15, 1801 in Moscow, mind. October 15, 1848 in St. Petersburg. The son of a nobleman (of Moldavian origin), V. at the age of 10 entered the Court Singing Chapel, where his talent attracted the special attention of Bortnyansky; his voice, however, began to weaken, in 1819 he left the chapel and went to Holland, where he was regent at the church of the Russian embassy and served (psalmist?) at the court of V.K. Anna Pavlovna, Princess of Orange.

In 1823 V. returned to Russia and settled in Moscow, where he began to give music lessons (he was not only a singer, but also a violinist and guitarist).

In January 1829 V. entered the teacher of solo and choral singing in St. Petersburg. adv. chanter chapel (1200 rubles per year); but already at the end of 1831 he left the service and soon moved again to Moscow, where he took the place of assistant bandmaster and "class composer" Imp. Moscow theaters (the last title died with V.), while at the same time engaging in pedagogical activities.

Since 1833, V. was granted a pension of 1,000 rubles by the Sovereign. (Assignment) per year. At the same time, the first 9 romances by V. were published in Moscow by Gresser (dedicated to

Verstovsky, with whom V. became close in Moscow).

After the death of his first wife, V. remarried c. 1842, two years later he left the government service in Moscow and in 1845 moved again to St. Petersburg. His efforts to get a place in the chapel again. were not crowned with success and he had to live exclusively with music lessons (private and in educational institutions) and his compositions. His songs and romances soon became very popular and were paid for by the highest fees for that time (along with Glinka).

There was even a legend that was not based on anything, as if "Askold's Grave" was written by V., who then sold it to Verstovsky.

V. died suddenly, from a broken heart; a few weeks later his grave (at the Smolensk cemetery) was washed away by a flood; her place is still unknown.

The collection of romances by V. (223) was published by Stellovsky in 12 volumes; since then, most of them have been reprinted more than once.

By its general nature and technical warehouse they are approaching the Alyabyevsk; however, V. was more talented than his contemporary, he knew his strength better and therefore used them better. In the Russian "songs" of V. there are undoubtedly folk features, but for the most part these features are captured only superficially and nowhere are they sustained to the end. The most famous of the songs: "Red Sundress", "I'll Saddle a Horse" (both served as themes for Venyavsky's "Souvenir de Moscou"), "Grass", "Nightingale", "What has become foggy"; from romances: "Song of Ophelia", "I'm sorry for you", "No doctor, no", duets: "Swimmers", "You don't sing", etc. Many of them are still willingly sung now (mainly in amateur circles) .

In addition, V. wrote several "Cherubic" and the first Russian "School of Singing" (Moscow, 1840), the first part of which (theoretical) is a remake of the Parisian school of Andrade, while the other two (practical) are independent and abound with valuable instructions on the art of singing , which in many respects have not lost their significance to this day. Sons V .: George, b. 1825, served in military service, the author of many romances in the spirit of his father, and Konstantin (born after the death of his father) is a gifted dramatic artist in St. Petersburg. Imp. scenes. See Bulich's article on V. ("Rus. Muz. Gaz.", 1901, Nos. 45-49). (E.) (Riman) Varlamov, Alexander Egorovich (1801-1851) - Russian composer, representative of the era of the so-called. dilettantism of Russian music.

V. is a nobleman by birth.

Numerous songs and romances of V. (among them the most famous: "The Red Sundress", "The Nightingale Stray", "I Will Saddle a Horse", "Grass", "Nightingale", etc.) are in most cases a fake for a folk song, which finds explanation for itself lies in the demand for sweetened folk songs that characterizes the musical life of Russia in the first half of the 19th century. V.'s works, distinguished by their ease and accessibility of form, great melody and sound characteristic, were very popular even during his lifetime; Later, V.'s romances continued to be a favorite repertoire among the petty-bourgeois and merchant classes. V.'s lack of musical education left the stamp of primitivism on his work and did not allow him to reach the level of the then Western European musical creativity, although some of his romances reflected the influence of Schubert.

V. enjoyed great fame as a teacher.

He compiled a singing school in 3 parts (Moscow, 1840), of which, however, only the last two are independent.

The collection of romances by V. was published by Stellovsky in 12 notebooks.

Lit .: Bulich S., A. B. Varlamov, "Russian Musical Newspaper", 1901, Nos. 45-49. Varlamov, Alexander Egorovich (b. 27.XI.1801 in Moscow, d. 27.X.1848 in St. Petersburg) - Russian. composer, singer, conductor, teacher.

Muses. educated in the court Singing Chapel; student of D. Bortnyansky.

In 1819-23, a singing teacher at the Russian. embassy church in The Hague; in subsequent years he lived in Moscow (1823-29, 1832-45) and St. Petersburg (1829-32, 1845-48). Author of the first manual on vocal pedagogy in Russia.

The main field of creativity is vocal lyrics (song, romance), marked by proximity to urban everyday music, warmth, immediacy, and genre diversity.

Cit.: ballets "Fun of the Sultan" (1834), "Cunning Boy and Ogre" ("A Boy with a Finger", together with A. Guryanov, 1837); music for drama. spectrum. "Ermak", "Two-wife", "Hamlet" and others; OK. 200 romances and songs, including "Oh, time, time," "Red Sundress," "A blizzard sweeps along the street," "I'll saddle a horse," "Don't wake her up at dawn," "The Robber's Song" ( “What is clouded, clear dawn”), “What are you early, grass”, “So the soul breaks”, “The lonely sail turns white”, “Nightingale”, duet “Swimmers”, etc .; Complete School of Singing (1840). Varlamov, Alexander Egorovich - famous Russian amateur composer.

As a child, he passionately loved music and singing, especially church singing, and early began to play the violin by ear (Russian songs). At the age of ten, Varlamov entered the court choir as a chorister.

In 1819, Varlamov was appointed regent of the Russian court church in The Hague, where the sister of Emperor Alexander I, Anna Pavlovna, who was married to the Crown Prince of the Netherlands, then lived.

Apparently, Varlamov did not work on the theory of musical composition and remained with the knowledge that he could have taken from the chapel, which in those days did not care at all about the general musical development of its graduates.

In The Hague and Brussels there was then an excellent French opera, whose artists Varlamov met.

Perhaps from here he learned his art of singing, which gave him the opportunity to later become a good teacher of vocal art.

In 1823 Varlamov returned to Russia.

At the end of 1828 or the beginning of 1829, Varlamov began to fuss about a second admission to the singing chapel, and he brought two cherubic songs to Emperor Nicholas I - his first compositions known to us. On January 24, 1829, he was assigned to the chapel as a "great chorister", and he was entrusted with the duty of teaching minor choristers and learning solo parts with them.

In December 1831 he was dismissed from the service in the chapel, in 1832 he took the place of assistant conductor of the imperial Moscow theaters, and in 1834 he received the title of composer of music at the same theaters.

By the beginning of 1833, a collection of nine of his romances (including one duet and one trio) with piano accompaniment, dedicated to Verstovsky, appeared in print: "Music Album for 1833". By the way, this collection contains the famous romance “Don’t sew for me, mother” (“Red Sundress”), which glorified the name of Varlamov and became famous in the West as a “Russian national song”, as well as another very popular romance “What foggy, clear dawn." Advantages of Varlamov's talent as a composer: sincerity of mood, warmth and sincerity, obvious melodic talent, striving for characterization, expressed in rather diverse and sometimes difficult accompaniments for that time with attempts at sound painting, national Russian flavor, more lively and bright than that of contemporaries and predecessors Varlamov.

For a correct assessment of the historical significance of the first romances of Varlamov, it must be remembered that at that time we had only the romances of the brothers Titov, Alyabyev, Verstovsky, and only a little higher were the first romances of M.I. Glinka.

Therefore, Varlamov's first romances occupied a prominent place in our vocal literature of that time and immediately became popular with all music lovers and admirers of nationality in its more accessible form. Varlamov retained the favor of the public in his further composing activity.

Varlamov's merit consisted in popularizing the national genre and in preparing the public for the perception in the future of more serious works of our national art music.

Along with his service, he also taught music, mainly singing, often in aristocratic houses. His lessons and compositions were paid well, but, with the scattered lifestyle of the composer (who was very fond of the card game, behind which he sat all night), he often had to need money.

Usually in such cases, he began to compose (always on the piano, on which he played mediocre, especially badly reading from the sight) and immediately sent the barely finished manuscript to the publisher to turn it into specie.

With such an attitude to the matter, he could not rise above the level of a gifted amateur.

In 1845, Varlamov again moved to St. Petersburg, where he had to live solely on his talent as a composer, singing lessons and annual concerts.

Under the influence of a wrong way of life, sleepless nights playing cards, various griefs and hardships, his health deteriorated, and on October 15, 1848, he suddenly died at a card party of his friends.

Varlamov left over 200 romances and three piano pieces (a march and two waltzes).

The most famous of these works are: the romances The Red Dress, I'll Saddle a Horse (both served as themes for Wieniawski's violin fantasy Souvenir de Moscou), Grass, Nightingale, What's Foggy, Angel, Ophelia's Song, "I'm sorry for you", "No, doctor, no", duets "Swimmers", "You don't sing", etc. Varlamov also owns the first Russian "School of Singing" (Moscow, 1840), the first part of which (theoretical) is a reworking of the Parisian school of Andrade, while the other two (practical) are of an independent nature and contain valuable instructions on vocal art, which have not lost their significance even now.

Varlamov Alexander is a famous composer who created about 200 works in his 47 years of life.

He directed all his creative forces to writing romances and songs, in which the soul of a Russian person was fully reflected.

In his works, based on the poems of Russian classics, he expresses the rebellious spirit that is placed in the lines of poetic poems.

Childhood

Alexander Yegorovich was born in Moscow in November 15 (27). 1801. His father was a petty official, and by his origin he went back to the Moldavian nobles. Already in his youth, he showed interest in the art of music. He could play by ear, without knowing musical notation, on the violin and on the guitar.

When the boy was ten years old, he entered the court chapel in St. Petersburg. Thanks to his talents and abilities, as well as beautiful singing, he easily managed to get there. The director of the chapel fell in love with little Alexander. D. S. Bortnyansky even gave young Varlamov private lessons, for which the future composer was very grateful to him in his adult life.

Biography

After graduating from the court chapel in 1819, Alexander Egorovich became a singing teacher in the Orthodox Church in The Hague. This place can be called the beginning of his career. Varlamov begins to conduct activities as a conductor, singer and guitarist. Four years later, he returns to St. Petersburg, where he finds work in the theater as a singing teacher.

In 1829, he managed to get a job as a teacher in the court chapel. In 1832 he moved to Moscow. Thanks to his merits, he receives a place as an assistant conductor in the imperial theater. Alexander quickly enters social life, where he becomes close to many famous people who influenced his work. Among them, biographers single out A.N. Verstakova, M.S. Shchepkina, P.S. Mochalova and N.G. Tsyganov.

In 1833, all the attention of the elite was directed to the composer, since it was then that he released his first collection of romances. For the next two years he is the publisher of The Aeolian Harp. This periodical published new musical works not only by Varlamov himself, but also by other popular contemporary composers.

In 1840, he was the first to write and publish a teaching manual on singing. In The Complete School of Singing, he expounded his views and teaching methods. In 1843, he retired and left his position as "composer of music" in the imperial theater.

For the last three years of his life, he lives in St. Petersburg. Due to the severe material deprivations that haunted the composer all his life, his health was severely undermined. Alexander dies of tuberculosis in 1848.

Personal life

The composer had a large family that he had to feed. From his first wife by 1840 he had four children: George, Nikolai, Elena and Pavel. After the death of his wife, he remarries in 1842 to Maria Alexandrovna Satina. From this marriage, he had three children: Dmitry, Maria, who died still young, and later the famous dramatic actor - Konstantin. The last child was born a few months after the death of Alexander Yegorovich.

Creation

The main genres that occupied the composer were lyrical songs and Russian romances. In his musical works, one can see the imprint of the December events, as many romances are imbued with sadness, grief, as well as the desire for a better future and an escape from the disturbing present. As for Varlamov's vocal works, many of them reflected the influence of "urban folklore". In his romances, a dance rhythm is clearly traced.

famous works

Red sundress;
Nightingale;
Poet;
Mountain peaks;
A lone sail turns white, etc.

During the life of the composer, 43 of his songs were published.
In total, the musician created more than 200 works.
Gypsy folklore had a great influence on Varlamov's work.
Varlamov wrote songs and romances to the verses of M.Yu.

The future composer came from "Volosh", that is, Moldovan nobles. He was born in Moscow on November 15 (27), 1801 in a poor family of a modest, titular adviser Yegor Ivanovich Varlamov.

As a child, Sasha passionately loved music and singing, especially church singing, and early began to play the violin by ear (Russian songs).

At the age of ten, the boy was appointed by his father, on the advice of friends who appreciated his early musical talent, to the St. Petersburg Court Singing Chapel under the guidance of the famous Bortnyansky. At first, Varlamov was preparing for a career as a singer, but due to the weakening of his voice, he abandoned this idea.

In the Choir Varlamov studied music, was a choir singer, and later - the author of a number of spiritual compositions.

During the years of study in it, along with vocal talent, he discovered outstanding pedagogical abilities (primarily as a choirmaster).

In 1819, Varlamov was appointed regent of the Russian court church in The Hague, where the sister of Emperor Alexander I, Anna Pavlovna, then lived, who was married to the Crown Prince of the Netherlands. Apparently, Varlamov did not work on the theory of musical composition at all and remained with the meager knowledge that he could have taken out of the chapel (in those days, the leadership of the choir cared little about the general musical development of their pupils).

At that time there was an excellent French opera in The Hague and Brussels, with the artists of which Varlamov made acquaintance. Listening to Rossini's "The Barber of Seville", Varlamov was especially delighted with the skillful use of the Russian song "What was the fence for in the garden" in the finale of Act 2, which the Italian maestro, according to Varlamov, "well, masterfully brought into Polish." Perhaps this is where he got his knowledge of vocal art, which gave him the opportunity to later become a good singing teacher.

Having many acquaintances, especially among musicians and music lovers, Varlamov probably already formed the habit of a disorderly and scattered life, which prevented him from developing his composer talent properly.

In 1823 Varlamov returned to Russia.

From 1823 he lived in St. Petersburg, where he taught at a theater school and for some time served as a chorister and teacher in the Chapel. During this period, Varlamov became close to

M.I. Glinka, took part in the performance of his works, performed in public concerts as a conductor and singer.

The heyday of his work falls on the Moscow period of life (1832-1844). Successful composing debut in a play

A.A. Shakhovsky Roslavlev (1832) and work in theatrical genres contributed to Varlamov getting the position of assistant bandmaster (1832), and then "composer of music" at the orchestra of the Imperial Moscow Theaters. Varlamov wrote the music for Shakespeare's Hamlet commissioned by the famous actor

P.S. Mochalova (1837), staged in Moscow his ballets The Sultan's Amusements (1834), The Cunning Boy and the Cannibal (1837), etc.

In the early 1830s the first romances and songs of Varlamov appear (in total, he created more than 100 works of this genre, and among them are “Red Sundress”, “What has become foggy, clear dawn”, “Do not make noise, violent winds” (published in 1835–1837)).

Varlamov successfully performed as a singer, was a popular vocal teacher (he taught at the Theater School, Orphanage, gave private lessons).

In 1834–1835 he published the journal Aeolian Harp, where he published his own romances and piano works, as well as works by other authors.

In 1840 Varlamov released the Complete School of Singing.

The composer also tried his hand in the field of sacred music. He owns the "Cherubim" for eight and four voices (Gresser's edition, 1844). But Varlamov soon realized that the majestic church style, which required strict restraint, did not suit the nature of his talent and his musical technique, which was not particularly developed; he again switched to his favorite forms of song and romance.

A.S. Dargomyzhsky and A.A. Grigoriev (two poems by this poet and a critic are dedicated to Varlamov).

In St. Petersburg, Varlamov began to give private lessons, performed in concerts, and was engaged in processing Russian folk songs (in 1846, a collection of these songs, The Russian Singer, was published).

Varlamov's romances were performed in the salons, they were sung in her concerts by the famous Pauline Viardot (1821-1910).

The composer died in St. Petersburg on October 15 (27), 1848. Gurilev's romance “Memories of Varlamov”, collective piano variations on the theme of his romance “A Nightingale by the Stray” are dedicated to his memory (among the authors are A. G. Rubinshtein, A. Genselt), as well as published in 1851 "Musical collection in memory of A. E. Varlamov", which included, along with the works of the late composer, romances of the most prominent Russian musicians.

Musical legacy:

A.E. Varlamov left more than 200 romances (including 42 Russian folk songs arranged by him for one voice and piano, of which 4 are Little Russian, a small number of compositions for 3 voices, three church works for the choir (Cherubim) and three piano pieces (a march and two waltz).

Most of his romances and songs are based on the texts of Russian poets (M. Yu. Lermontov, A. V. Koltsov, N. G. Tsyganova, A. N. Pleshcheev, A. A. Fet).

Songs and Romances:

"Red dress",

"Saddle a horse"(both served as themes for Wieniawski's violin fantasy "Souvenir de Moscou"),

"Grass",

"Nightingale",

"What is foggy"

"Angel",

"Song of Ophelia"

"I feel sorry for you",

"No doctor, no"

"At dawn, don't wake her up"

"A blizzard sweeps along the street,"

"Mountain peaks", etc.

Varlamov is the author of music for dramatic performances, including "Roslavlev"(together with A. N. Verstovsky), "Two-wife", "Ermak", "Forests of Murom", "Hamlet" and etc.; ballets "Fun of the Sultan"(1834), "The sly boy and the ogre"(according to the fairy tale by Ch. Perrault “A boy with a finger”, together with A. S. Guryanov, 1837); choirs, vocal ensembles, etc.

Varlamov also owns the first Russian "School of Singing"(Moscow, 1840), the first part of which (theoretical) is a reworking of the Parisian school of Andrade, while the other two (practical) are of an independent nature and contain valuable instructions on vocal art, which have not lost their significance even now.

He is one of the greatest masters of vocal lyrics of the 1st half 19th century His romances and "Russian songs" enjoyed great success with a mass audience.

Russian composer, singer (tenor) and vocal teacher. Born in Moscow on November 15 (27), 1801 in the family of an official. At the age of nine he was sent to St. Petersburg, where he studied music at the Court Singing Chapel, was a choir singer, and later the author of a number of spiritual compositions. At the age of 18 he was sent to Holland as a teacher of choristers of the Russian embassy church in The Hague. From 1823 he lived in St. Petersburg, where he taught at a theater school and for some time served as a chorister and teacher in the Chapel. During this period, he became close to M. I. Glinka, took part in the performance of his works, performed in public concerts as a conductor and singer.

The heyday of creativity falls on the Moscow period of Varlamov's life (1832-1844). A successful composer's debut in the play by A. A. Shakhovsky Roslavlev (1832) and work in theatrical genres contributed to Varlamov getting the position of assistant bandmaster (1832), and then "composer of music" with the orchestra of the Imperial Moscow Theaters. Varlamov wrote music for Shakespeare's Hamlet commissioned by the famous actor P.S. In the early 1830s, the first romances and songs of Varlamov appeared; in total, he created more than 100 works of this genre, and among them are "Red Sundress", "What has become foggy, clear dawn", "Do not make noise, violent winds" (published in 1835-1837). Varlamov successfully performed as a singer, was a popular vocal teacher (he taught at the Theater School, Orphanage, gave private lessons), in 1849 he published his "Complete School of Singing"; in 1834–1835 he published the journal Aeolian Harp, which included romances and piano works, his own and other authors.

After 1845, the musician lived in St. Petersburg, where he moved in the hope of getting a job as a teacher in the Court Chapel, but for various reasons this plan did not materialize. He was a member of St. Petersburg literary and artistic circles; he became close friends with A. S. Dargomyzhsky and A. A. Grigoriev (two poems by this poet and a critic are dedicated to Varlamov). Varlamov's romances were performed in salons, and the famous Pauline Viardot (1821–1910) sang them in her concerts.

Varlamov died in St. Petersburg on October 15 (27), 1848. His memory was dedicated to Gurilev's romance "Memories of Varlamov", collective piano variations on the theme of his romance "The Stray Nightingale" (among the authors A. G. Rubinshtein, A. Genselt), as well as The Music Collection in Memory of A. E. Varlamov, published in 1851, included, along with the works of the late composer, romances by the most prominent Russian composers. In total, Varlamov created about two hundred romances and songs based on texts by more than 40 poets, a collection of arrangements of folk songs "Russian Singer" (1846), two ballets, music for at least two dozen performances (most of them are lost).

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1. famous romance

Varlamov's romances enjoyed great love of the Moscow public and instantly scattered throughout the city. Varlamov's close friend Bantyshev, soloist of the Bolshoi Theater, begged the composer for a long time to write a romance for him.
- What do you like?
- Whatever you want, Alexander Yegorovich ...
- Fine. Come back in a week. Varlamov wrote very lightly, but, being an extremely unassembled person, he was going to get to work for a very long time.
A week later, Bantyshev comes - there is no romance.
“There was no time,” Varlamov throws up his hands. - Come tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the same. But the singer was a stubborn man and began to come to Varlamov every morning, when the composer was still asleep.
- What you are, really, - once Varlamov was indignant. - The man is sleeping, and you appear, one might say, at dawn! I'll write you a romance. I said, I'll write, and I'll write!
- Tomorrow? - Bantyshev asks caustically.
- Tomorrow, tomorrow!
In the morning the singer, as always, is. Varlamov is sleeping.
“This is for you, Mr. Bantyshev,” the servant says and hands over to the early guest a new romance, which was destined to become famous throughout Russia.
The romance was called "At dawn, you don't wake her!"

2. bird

Varlamov was a kind and unconceited man. Expelled from the Bolshoi Theater, he was left without a job and without a penny of money. Being the father of a large family that had to be supported and fed somehow, the composer and favorite of the Moscow public, not without difficulty, took a very modest position as a singing teacher in an orphanage.
- Is it your business? After all, you are the first celebrity in Moscow. You don't remember yourself at all! - his friend, the tragic poet Mochalov, reprimanded Varlamov.
“Ah, Pasha, there is a lot of pride in you,” the composer replied. - I sing like a bird. He sang at the Bolshoi Theater - well. Now I will sing with orphans - is it bad? ...

3. Evil tongues claim...

That the famous opera by Alexei Verstovsky "Askold's Grave" was actually written by Varlamov. But, being a careless and frivolous person, he lost it at cards to Verstovsky.
Verstovsky staged "Askold's Grave" under his own name at the Bolshoi Theater and became famous. When Varlamov's close friend, the poet Apollon Grigoriev, told him reproachfully: "Ah, Alexander Egorovich, what have you done! Don't you feel sorry for your opera?" I’ll write more, it’s not difficult!”

4. everything is very simple

One day, an aspiring composer complained to Varlamov that he was not getting a romance, and asked for advice...
“But what advice is there, dear?” Varlamov replied. - Do it very simply: write ten romances and throw them into the stove, you see, the eleventh will come out good ...

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