Orpheus and Pickleherring in the Kremlin: The “Ballet” for the Tsar of February 1672

A pivotal event in the formation of Russian court theatre was identified: a February 1672 performance for Tsar Aleksej Michajlovič by foreign residents in Moscow, which directly catalyzed the establishment of his court theatre in October 1672. By analyzing contemporary published accounts (newspapers and Jacob Rautenfels' 1680 work) and unpublished diplomatic dispatches—some newly discovered—the study pinpointed this event's date and established connections between Western theatrical practices and early Russian staged performances. The research also contextualized subsequent court theatre performances, notably featuring the stock comic figure Pickleherring. Beyond rewriting the pre-history of Russian theatre, the findings highlight the significance of Early Modern Europe's communications revolution in cultural history, emphasizing the role of newspapers and diplomatic dispatches in shaping early Russian culture.

Jensen, C., & Maier, I. (2013). Orpheus and Pickleherring in the Kremlin: The “Ballet” for the Tsar of February 1672. Scando-Slavica, 59(2), 145–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/00806765.2013.855350