Gypsy Choruses (entry)

Categories / Art/Music, Theatre/Stage, Cabaret, Variety Shows
GYPSY CHORUSES, up to the early 20th century they were called "Moscow Gypsy Choruses" (that is, Russian) in contrast to Hungarian, Spanish, Crimean. Practically all soloists had stage names, their real names having been for the most part lost. Gypsy Choruses began taking part in masked balls and other entertainments in St. Petersburg during the reign of Peter the Great. After a decree allowing gypsies to live on the outskirts of St. Petersburg was issued in 1733, Gypsy Choruses started functioning officially. There is a document from 1740 attesting to the arrival of "singing gypsies" to St. Petersburg for the opening of the Ice House. The tradition of Gypsy Choruses comes from the chorus of nomadic gypsies, "leutari," ordered in 1774 by Count A. G. Orlov from Walachia (director I. T. Sokolov; 1740s - 1807). Count G.A. Potemkin's chorus was also famous. Holidays with Gypsy Choruses performances were held at grandees' residences in Ekaterinhof, at the summer residence of Count A.A. Bezborodko on Okhta (see the Estate of Kushelev-Bezborodko Family), and in the Stroganovsky Garden, among other location. The early 19th century saw several famous choruses, including those of Merchant S.I. Yakovlev, Official Polinkovsky, and Colonel Olsufyev. In 1818, a concert of gypsy choruses was given at the Bolshoy (Stone) Theatre. In the 1830s, the choruses of I.N. Vasilyev and I.O. Sokolov became popular. The first singing gypsy settlements appeared in Novaya Derevnya, the Chernaya Rechka area, and Ekaterinhof. By the middle of the 19th century, gypsy choruses enjoyed wide popularity, their number constantly increasing. Some of the figures to stand out were the choruses of G.I. Sokolov (about 1830-70), N. Osipov, M. Petrov, R.A. Kalabin (about 1830-90); the soloist-singers K.G. Sokolova, Masha Masalskaya, and Pasha Masalsky; and dancers Alexey and Egor Petrov. In the late 19th century, the most famous chorus was that of N.I. Shishkin (1845-1911). His chorus was the first to tour to Europe in 1878; in 1886, they took part in the staging of the first gypsy operetta Gypsy Songs Performed (Arcadia Garden, on the bank of the Bolshaya Neva River); in 1892 they performed the operetta Gypsy Life (Maly Theatre, 65 Fontanka River Embankment). The chorus also gave performances at the Mariinsky Theatre, the Hall of the City Duma, Cinizelli Circus, and other halls throughout St. Petersburg. The chorus boasted singers Varya Panina and Domasha Masalskaya, and guitarists Gubkin Brothers and Masalsky Brothers. In the late 19th century, the gypsy chorus of M.A. Shishkin (1851-1917) gained popularity, collaborating with P.I. Tchaikovsky, A.N. Masalsky (1865-1938), and N.D. Dulkevich (1871-1936) among others. The last Petersburg gypsy chorus was V.P. Polyakov's (1878-1942). The last official gypsy chorus concert was given in 1917 in the Small Hall of the Conservatory. After October 1917, gypsy choruses broke up into small groups of 10-15 people. In 1918, gypsy choruses played for units of the Red Army and performed in workers' clubs. Gypsy choruses bloomed during the period of the New Economic Policy. In the 1920-30s, individual actors and companies continued giving concerts and putting out gramophone recording. Small gypsy troupes appeared in Leningrad concert halls (1-2 concerts a year). Folklore gypsy troupes appeared. Today there are still several gypsy variety ensembles in St. Petersburg.

References: Щербакова Т. А. Цыганское музыкальное исполнительство и творчество в России. М., 1984; Ром-Лебедев И. И. От цыганского хора к театру "Ромэн": Зап. моск. цыгана. М., 1990; Бауров К. А. Репертуары цыганских хоров старого Петербурга. СПб., 1996.

Y. N. Kruzhnov. Bezborodko Alexander Andreevich
Cinizelli Gaetano
Dulkevich Nikolay Dmitrievich
Kalabin Rodion Arkadievich
Kushelev-Bezborodko Alexander Andreevich, Gracious Prince
Masalskaya Masha (Domasha)
Masalsky Alexey Nikitich
Masalsky Pasha
Olsufyev
Orlov Alexey Grigorievich, Count
Osipov Nikolay Petrovich
Panina Varvara Vasilievna
Peter I, Emperor
Petrov Alexey
Petrov Egor
Petrov Matvey
Polinkovsky
Polyakov Vasily Petrovich
Potemkin Grigory Alexandrovich, Gracious Prince of Tauride
Shishkin Matvey Alexandrovich
Shishkin Nikolay Ivanovich
Sokolov Grigory Ivanovich
Sokolov Ilya Osipovich
Sokolov Ilya Timofeevich
Sokolova Kapitolina Grigorievna
Tchaikovsky Peter Ilyich
the Gubkins
Vasilyev Ivan Nikolaevich
Yakovlev S.I.
Bolshaya Nevka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 65
Щербакова Т. А. Цыганское музыкальное исполнительство и творчество в России. М., 1984
Ром-Лебедев И. И. От цыганского хора к театру "Ромэн": Зап. моск. цыгана. М., 1990
Бауров К. А. Репертуары цыганских хоров старого Петербурга. СПб., 1996 Mariinsky Theatre
City Duma
Cinizelli's Circus