Carlos Puente Martin will present his book on life and works of three important Spanish personalities who exert remarkable influence on Russian culture and society until today. They shared mutual facts of common destiny — all three of them served at the St. Petersburg Court and were buried in St. Petersburg, the former capital of the Russian Empire: the Admiral José de Ribas y Plunkett (1749–1800), the composer Vicente Martin y Soler (1754–1806) and the engineer Agustín de Betancourt y Molina (1758–1824). It was the time of Empress Catherine II (r. 1762–1796) and the Emperors Paul I (r. 1796–1801) and Alexander I (r. 1801–1825). In his book the author analyses their significance against the background of European politics.
The works of José de Ribas y Plunkett and Agustín de Betancourt y Molina continued to enjoy great posthumous recognition in the Soviet Union and, after its collapse, in the Russian Federation. The engineer Agustín de Betancourt y Molina played an important role in the modernization of infrastructures and technical education in Russia. In addition to his military career, Admiral José de Ribas y Plunkett was an influential urban planner with geopolitical reach in the Russian Empire. Their achievements established a basis for Russia to further develop its great political power, thus they both are recognized until today.
The Valencian Vicente Martin y Soler left an impressive musical heritage at the Court of Saint Petersburg, having been Empress Catherine’s favourite musician. Two librettos written by the Empress herself in Russian language were set to music by the Spanish composer and performed at the Hermitage, St. Petersburg in 1789 and 1791. According to the author, Vicente Martin y Soler is still remembered in Russia with annual performances of his operas.
Prior to his engagement at the Russian Court, Vicente Martin y Soler lived in Vienna, as protégé of Marquesa de Llano, wife of the Spanish Ambassador to the Court of Emperor Josef II (r. 1765/1780–1790). Martin y Soler was also a cherished composer of the Viennese society, setting to music three operas based on librettos by Lorenzo da Ponte (1749–1828), all of them being premiered at the Burgtheater: Il burbero di buon cuore (January 1786), Una cosa rara, o sia Bellezza ed onestà (November 1786) and L’arbore di Diana (October 1787) – the latter was written by Da Ponte at the same time as the librettos for Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Antonio Salieri’s Axur re’Ormus. Two further librettos for Martin y Soler followed in London in the 1790’s when Da Ponte was engaged as poet at the King’s Theatre, Haymarket: La scuola dei maritati (January 1795, on the continent highly successful as La capricciosa corretta) and L’isola del piacere (May 1795).
Author
CARLOS PUENTE holds a PhD in Economics and Business Administration and Master’s degrees in political science, law, and European law from Spanish and international universities. He has been an entrepreneur and worked in the private as well as in the public sector. He was an official of the Spanish Administration and the European Commission (Brussels). He was assigned in Moscow as Commercial Attaché of the Spanish Embassy and held posts in Europe, Asia and America. Puente is a lecturer in European and American organizations and institutions and senior visiting professor at universities, often participating at international meetings. He is an analyst of politics and economy in debates on European Union policies, and a radio and television panelist. As a columnist he has published numerous articles in Europe and America. At present he lives in Vienna. His current work is focused on Central and Eastern Europe.
The author will be introduced by Carlo Rivero (Vienna University of Economics and Business) and Reinhard Eisendle (Don Juan Archiv Wien).
Programme
Adress of welcome
Matthias J. Pernerstorfer, Don Juan Archiv Wien, Director
Presentation
On Carlos Puente and his cultural activities
Carlos Rivero, Vienna University of Economics and Business
Carlos Puente about his book "Tres Egregios Españoles en la Corte de San Petersburgo"
On the relation of Vicente Martin y Soler and Lorenzo da Ponte
Reinhard Eisendle, Don Juan Archiv Wien
Conversation with the author about interests and activities in the field of culture
Bread and Wine
