Russian Musicals Against the Background of the History of the Genre

Abstract

The article presents a generalisation of some features of Russian musical in the context of its history. Against the background of the worldwide promotion of the genre, musical in Russia has its own distinctive features and original history. The notable role in it was played by the “Thea-Jazz” of the artist, singer and conductor Leonid Utesov and the fi rst musical fi lm comedy “Jolly Fellows” (1934) directed by Grigory Alexandrov with the participation of Utesov and his band (the music by Isaac Dunaevsky). The further fate of Russian musicals is also associated with the parallel development of the musical fi lm genre, on the one hand, and theatrical performances in Soviet theatres of outstanding examples of foreign composers, on the other hand. Acquaintance with such works as the jazz opera “Porgy and Bess” by George Gershwin, “The Threepenny Opera” by Kurt Weill, the “My Fair Lady” musical by Frederick Loewe and “West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein increased the interest of composers and the public in the genre and led to the appearance of their own successful versions.