The Merchant Kalashnikov

It also contains typical features such as folk-songs, dances of jesters, chants of monks, and a chorus of praise for the Tsar.

It was taken off after its first two performances for political reasons (the climactic execution of Kalashnikov being objected to by Tsar Alexander II).

The only significant female role, the merchant's wife Alyona, has no major part to play.

[4] Gerald Abraham writes: A good deal [of the music] is mediocre [and] colourless ... the more definitely Russian melody sometimes tends to watery lyricism or else is weakened by conventional harmonization.

[1] Kiribeyevich, a member of the Tsar's guard (oprichnik) has made off with Alyona, the wife of Kalashnikov.