Vyacheslav Suk
Encyclopedia
Václav Suk, or Váša Suk, or Vyacheslav Suk (also Vyacheslav Ivanovich, Вячеслав Иванович Сук, or Vjačeslav Ivanovič Suk) (November 16, 1861, Kladno
, Bohemia, then Austria - January 12, 1933, Moscow) was a Czech-born Russian
violinist, conductor and composer.
as a pupil of Antonín Bennewitz
. Concurrently he studied also counterpoint
with Josef Krejčí
, and, privately, composition with Zdeněk Fibich
. In 1880 he went to Warsaw
as a violinist in the Warsaw Phlharmonic, but a short while later he was already engaged as a concert master in the Imperial Orchestra of Kiev
(from 1880 to 1882). In 1885 his career as an opera conductor began with the Philharmonic Society in Moscow, where from 1882 he had served as a violinist with the Bolshoi orchestra
, but he proved his abilities as kapellmeister
of the opera in Kharkov (1885–1886). Tchaikovsky
recommended him to Sankt Petersburg, Suk, however, went to Taganrog
, where he began to conduct also symphonic works. His later employment with a private opera orchestra in Vilnius
lasted from 1890 to 1894, and this was followed by guest performances or shorter engagemnents in many of the larger places in Russia, e.g. in Kharkiv, Moscow, Sankt Petersburg, Kazan
, and Saratov
.
In 1906 Suk returned to Moscow and became the kapellmeister of the opera of the Great Theatre (Bolshoi Theatre
). He conducted there for more than 25 years, until 1932, from 1928 on as its conductor-in-chief, and from 1927 he conducted also at the Stanislavski Opera Theatre in Moscow. He asserted himself also as a symphonic conductor, and promoted the works of Czech composers in Russia. - particularly works by Antonín Dvořák
and Bedřich Smetana
. After the Revolution he was commissioned with the organization of the Moscow Philharmonic Concerts, and in 1923 he was given the honour of conducting a special production at the Bolshoi of Richard Wagner
's Lohengrin
on the dual occasion of the 40th anniversary of the composer's death and of the 25-year stage jubilee of the famous Lohengrin-singer Leonid Sobinov
, who even had an asteroid called after him. Suk, who had the reputation of being an authentic interpreter of Tchaikowsky's music and of Rimsky-Korsakov's
operas, some of which he premiéred, was awarded many more honours during his Russian career, and the "orchestral foyer" in the Great Theatre was posthumously named after him.
Chamber
Symphonic
Songs
Kladno
Kladno is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is located 25 km northwest of Prague. Kladno is the largest city of the region and holds a population together with its adjacent suburban areas of more than 110,000 people...
, Bohemia, then Austria - January 12, 1933, Moscow) was a Czech-born Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
violinist, conductor and composer.
Biography
From 1873 to 1879 Váša Suk, who is said to have been related to Joseph Suk, studied violin at the Prague ConservatoryPrague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory, sometimes also Prague Conservatoire, in Czech Pražská konzervatoř, is a Czech secondary school in Prague dedicated to teaching the arts of music and theater acting.- Instruction :...
as a pupil of Antonín Bennewitz
Antonín Bennewitz
Antonín Bennewitz was a Czech violinist, conductor and teacher. He was in a line of violinists that extended back to Giovanni Battista Viotti, and forward to Jan Kubelík and Wolfgang Schneiderhan....
. Concurrently he studied also counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
with Josef Krejčí
Josef Krejci
Josef Krejci was an Austrian field handball player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.He was part of the Austrian field handball team, which won the silver medal. He played two matches.-External links:**...
, and, privately, composition with Zdeněk Fibich
Zdenek Fibich
Zdeněk Fibich was a Czech composer of classical music. Among his compositions are chamber works , symphonic poems, three symphonies, at least seven operas , melodramas including the substantial trilogy Hippodamia,...
. In 1880 he went to Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
as a violinist in the Warsaw Phlharmonic, but a short while later he was already engaged as a concert master in the Imperial Orchestra of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
(from 1880 to 1882). In 1885 his career as an opera conductor began with the Philharmonic Society in Moscow, where from 1882 he had served as a violinist with the Bolshoi orchestra
Bolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
, but he proved his abilities as kapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
of the opera in Kharkov (1885–1886). Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
recommended him to Sankt Petersburg, Suk, however, went to Taganrog
Taganrog
Taganrog is a seaport city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, located on the north shore of Taganrog Bay , several kilometers west of the mouth of the Don River. Population: -History of Taganrog:...
, where he began to conduct also symphonic works. His later employment with a private opera orchestra in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
lasted from 1890 to 1894, and this was followed by guest performances or shorter engagemnents in many of the larger places in Russia, e.g. in Kharkiv, Moscow, Sankt Petersburg, Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
, and Saratov
Saratov
-Modern Saratov:The Saratov region is highly industrialized, due in part to the rich in natural and industrial resources of the area. The region is also one of the more important and largest cultural and scientific centres in Russia...
.
In 1906 Suk returned to Moscow and became the kapellmeister of the opera of the Great Theatre (Bolshoi Theatre
Bolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
). He conducted there for more than 25 years, until 1932, from 1928 on as its conductor-in-chief, and from 1927 he conducted also at the Stanislavski Opera Theatre in Moscow. He asserted himself also as a symphonic conductor, and promoted the works of Czech composers in Russia. - particularly works by Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvorák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
and Bedřich Smetana
Bedrich Smetana
Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style which became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He is thus widely regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music...
. After the Revolution he was commissioned with the organization of the Moscow Philharmonic Concerts, and in 1923 he was given the honour of conducting a special production at the Bolshoi of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's Lohengrin
Lohengrin (opera)
Lohengrin is a romantic opera in three acts composed and written by Richard Wagner, first performed in 1850. The story of the eponymous character is taken from medieval German romance, notably the Parzival of Wolfram von Eschenbach and its sequel, Lohengrin, written by a different author, itself...
on the dual occasion of the 40th anniversary of the composer's death and of the 25-year stage jubilee of the famous Lohengrin-singer Leonid Sobinov
Leonid Sobinov
Leonid Vitalyevich Sobinov , was an acclaimed Imperial Russian operatic tenor. His fame continued unabated into the Soviet era, and he was made a People's Artist of the RSFSR in 1923...
, who even had an asteroid called after him. Suk, who had the reputation of being an authentic interpreter of Tchaikowsky's music and of Rimsky-Korsakov's
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russian composer, and a member of the group of composers known as The Five.The Five, also known as The Mighty Handful or The Mighty Coterie, refers to a circle of composers who met in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in the years 1856–1870: Mily Balakirev , César...
operas, some of which he premiéred, was awarded many more honours during his Russian career, and the "orchestral foyer" in the Great Theatre was posthumously named after him.
Selected works
Piano- Two Czech Dances, Op. 2
- Four Pieces, Op. 3
- Variations to the words of Czech Folksong
Chamber
- Czech Folksongs - for string quartet
- Four Pieces - for violin and piano
Symphonic
- Jan Hus - symphonic poem
- Symphony, Op. 13
- Festive March to the Memory of Richard WagnerRichard WagnerWilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
- Serenade Es major
- Serenade D major - for string orchestra
Songs
- Czech Songs - for voice and piano
- My Wish