Irkutsk musical and theater critique about italian opera in Siberia at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries by the materials of the newspaper “Eastern Review”)
The article examines music-critical publications from Siberian newspapers about the productions of Italian operas in theaters in Irkutsk and Tomsk during the heyday of theatrical business in the region at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. Attention is paid to the issue of the Italian opera repertoire, which was distinguished by stability and included masterpieces of romantic and Verist theater from Rossini to Puccini. The material is mainly reviews by Irkutsk critics Incognito and Bayan (pseudonyms), R. Ivanov about the operas “Troubadour”, “Aida”, “Rigoletto”, “Rural Honor”, “La Traviata” and others. The reviewers reflected the positive aspects of the performances, gave vivid characteristics to the singers, condemned shortcomings and violations in performance and directing, broadcast the opinion of the public, touched on problematic topics for local theaters. During the analysis of critical works, some fundamental evaluative aspects are revealed, among which the ratio of vocal and artistic skill of singers as an indicator of the school, the stage embodiment of the Italian opera in the provincial theater.