Moscow’s Musical Life as Reflected in the Newspaper Moskovskie Vedomosti (‘Moscow Gazette’) Year 1787

For the first time, a collection of announcements from the Moskovskie vedomosti (‘Moscow Gazette’) of 1787 is presented. In describing the journey of Empress Catherine II to Taurida, it is supplemented by materials from the Chamber Fourier Ceremonial Journal and testimonies of contemporaries. During her months-long voyage to the south of the empire, Catherine II heard a variety of church singing, she was greeted with fanfares performed by trumpeters and timpanists, cants and cantatas performed by serf choirs and orchestras; operas and comedies were shown in city theatres. At the celebration in Moscow of the 25th anniversary of her accession to the throne, the prologue of M. M. Kheraskov’s composition with music by A. Bullandt (which has not survived) was performed. The festivities organized by Prince G. A. Potemkin in Kremenchug, the cities of the Yekaterinoslav province and the Crimea included theatrical battles, a naval battle, the ceremonial launching of newly built ships, balls, masquerades; during dinners, the Prince’s serf chapel performed works by Haydn, Sarti, Tietz, and Boccherini. Among other events of 1787, we note the concert performances at the Petrovsky Theatre of the flutist H. K. Hartmann, the oboist Garenton, the harpist K. T. Niemetschek, the pianists I. A. Stein and I. H. Firnhaber, the violinist A. Galetti, the singers N. V. Sokolovskaya, G. Cataldi, L. Todi, and the conductor M. Kertselli. M. Stabinger advertised a music school in his own home; the ballet master C. Morelli advertised his dance school. Due to reports from Paris and Vienna, the readers received information about the premieres of operas by G. Paisiello, A. Grétry, A. Sacchini, A. Salieri, F.-A. Philidor, N.-A. Dezède. The publication contains 50 illustrations.