Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Yegah Musicology Journal, cilt.8, sa.4, ss.2559-2584, 2025 (Scopus)
This research examines the influence of rising nationalism in 19th-century Europe on Russian opera and the role of Modest Mussorgsky in this regard. This research addresses the formation of national identity in 19th-century Russian opera and Modest Mussorgsky’s distinctive contributions, addressing a significant gap in the literature. The research utilizes romantic research methods. A detailed analysis was conducted on data obtained through a literature review. Opera in Russia in the 18th and early 19th centuries developed largely through French artists and Western European musical traditions, while local artists long adopted an imitative style. The national musical understanding, which began with Mihail Glinka, was consolidated through the ideological and aesthetic efforts of the “Russian Five,” and folk melodies, traditional themes, and literary sources became fundamental components of the national opera tradition. During this process, Modest Mussorgsky rejected Western harmonic patterns and traditional forms, translating the rhythms of Russian speech into music and developing a vocal style that emphasized stagecraft. Operas such as “Boris Godunov” and “Khovanshchina” reflected Russia’s personal histories, cultural processes, and social life, thus localizing opera both thematically and formally. Modest Mussorgsky’s advanced approach brought Russian opera a unique and youthful presence, free from Western-centric influences, and contributed to its establishment on the national and global stage.