Nápravník, Eduard Franzevich (1839–1916)

Czech composer and conductor. As principal conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, he gave the first performance of Mussorgsky's opera Boris Godunov in 1874.

He studied music precariously as a child, being the son of a poor teacher, and was left an orphan and destitute in 1853, but succeeded in entering the Organ School in Prague, where he studied with Kittel and others, and became an assistant teacher. In 1861 he went to St Petersburg as conductor of Prince Yusupov's private orchestra, became organist and assistant conductor at the Imperial theatres in 1863, second conductor in 1867, and chief conductor, succeeding Liadov, in 1869, holding the post until his death; he gave the first performances of Boris Godunov, five operas by Tchaikovsky, including The Maid of Orleans, Mazepa, and The Queen of Spades, and five by Rimsky-Korsakov, including May Night, The Snow Maiden, and Christmas Eve. He also conducted concerts of the Russian Music Society.

Works Opera and stage music operas The Nizhniy-Novgorodians (1868), Harold (1886), Dubrovsky (1895), and Francesca da Rimini (on Stephen Phillips's play, 1902); incidental music for Alexei Tolstoy's play Don Juan (1892).

Orchestral and choral ballads for voices and orchestra The Voyevode, The Cossack, and Tamara (after Lermontov); four symphonies (1860–79), no. 3 The Demon (after Lermontov), suite; Solemn Overture; marches and national dances for orchestra; concerto and fantasy on Russian themes for piano and orchestra; fantasy and suite for violin and orchestra.

Chamber three string quartets (1873–78), string quintet (1897), two piano trios, piano quartet, violin and piano sonata, two suites for cello and piano; string instrument and piano pieces.