Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1875

Death

:

1950

 

Konstantin Eiges was a Russian composer who lived from 1896 to 1957. He was born in the city of Odessa, which was then part of the Russian Empire. Eiges showed an early interest in music and began studying piano at the age of six. He later studied composition with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Eiges' early works were influenced by the Russian nationalist style of music that was popular at the time. He wrote several orchestral works, including a symphony and a suite for orchestra. He also wrote chamber music, including a string quartet and a piano trio. In the 1920s, Eiges became interested in the music of the Second Viennese School, which included composers such as Arnold Schoenberg and Alban Berg. He began incorporating elements of atonality and serialism into his own music. This was a controversial move in the Soviet Union, where the government was promoting a more conservative style of music known as socialist realism. Despite this, Eiges continued to compose in his own style. He wrote several works for solo piano, including a set of preludes and fugues. He also wrote vocal music, including a cycle of songs based on the poetry of Alexander Pushkin. Eiges' most famous work is his ballet, The Red Poppy. The ballet tells the story of a group of sailors who visit a Chinese port and become involved in a plot to overthrow the local warlord. The music is a blend of Russian and Chinese themes, and includes a famous "Chinese Dance" that has become a popular concert piece in its own right. The Red Poppy was first performed in 1927 and was an immediate success. It was performed over 1,000 times in the Soviet Union and was also staged in other countries, including China and the United States. The ballet was later adapted into a film, which was released in 1937. Eiges continued to compose throughout his life, but his later works were not as well-known as The Red Poppy. He died in Moscow in 1957. In conclusion, Konstantin Eiges was a Russian composer who was known for his blend of traditional Russian music with modernist techniques. His most famous work, The Red Poppy, was a ballet that was popular both in the Soviet Union and abroad. Eiges' legacy as a composer continues to be celebrated today, particularly in Russia where his music is still performed and studied.

More....