The works of the famous Russian composer Pyotr Petrovich Bulakhov belong to the genre of urban romance. Widespread during the composer's lifetime, they are successfully performed on the modern stage.
In the second half of the 19th century, songs and romances written by the famous composer Bulakhov sounded in almost every living room of both aristocratic houses and families of city residents. They were distinguished by a subtle sense of music, melodiousness, deeply penetrating lyrics, harmony of the text and instrumental design of the work. In the melody one could hear the warm sincerity of Russian songs and the passion of the gypsy guitar, city song and dance elements, polonaise rhythms and waltz tunes, classical operatic turns.
Musical education
Petr Petrovich Bulakhov was born in Moscow, in a family in love with music. The composer's father, Peter Alexandrovich, was not only the head of the family, but also the ideological inspirer of his sons. Being himself a renowned tenor, a prominent representative of the Moscow opera, he gave children an excellent musical education. Peter's younger brother, Pavel, later conquered the Petersburg Opera, and the elder became a vocal teacher, composer, author of famous romances and songs. Bulakhov Sr. was considered a first-class performer of the first half of the 19th century, able to outshine even famous Italian singers, sometimes he composed music for songs. Paul also composed romances, which led to some inaccuracies in the authorship of the works.
The biography of the composer Bulakhov has not been fully studied by his contemporaries, but even the scarce information that is available presents us with his life, far from strewn with roses. A disabled person, broken by paralysis, spent most of his time in bed or an armchair, and only in rare moments of relief would he sit down at the piano, and then their small apartment was filled with the sounds of divine music.
Communication with friends was a great joy for the patient. Many prominent figures of art were frequent guests in their house. Petr Petrovich was friends with S. Rubinstein, well-known patrons of the arts - S. Sheremetyev, P. Tretyakov, S. Mamontov.
A family
The composer's wife, Elizaveta Pavlovna Zbrueva, took care of all the efforts to support the family and housekeeping. Their relationship was not official, it was considered a civil marriage due to the fact that the former husband of Zbrueva did not consent to divorce. Two daughters, whom Elizaveta Pavlovna gave to her husband, bore the patronymic "Ivanovna" and were considered illegitimate, which, however, did not prevent one of them, Eugenia, from becoming an opera singer, continuing the family dynasty.
An already poor family, in the seventies, another terrible misfortune befell - there was a fire in their apartment, which not only destroyed property, but all unpublished manuscripts of works. The family was sheltered by S. Sheremetyev in his estate Kuskovo, providing them with a small house for housing.
There, in 1885, the famous composer died. The musical community on December 2 celebrates the day of memory of Pyotr Petrovich Bulakhov.
A wide palette of tunes, heartfelt melody, subtly felt lyrics of songs and romances have so organically blended into the country's musical heritage that for more than two centuries the musician's works have been remembered, performed, and loved by the audience.
