The chamber opera by Sergei Cortes is a musical embodiment of a kindly mocking and funny play-joke, which the young Chekhov dedicated to the actor Nikolai Solovtsov, the master of comic roles. The play became a hit on the stage, it was staged all over the country. Members of the Romanov family, led by Nicholas II, acted out "The Bear", entertaining themselves in Tobolsk exile in March 1918.
The play was translated into different languages, filmed in Russia and abroad, set to music - before Cortes, their "Bears" were composed by the American composer Dominic Argento (1957) and Briton William Walton (1967).
According to Sergei Cortes, “Anton Chekhov's play is perfect. In it, the characters of the characters, vivid stage situations are written out with particular accuracy, it is distinguished by its magnificent simplicity and wit of poetic style. The author, who celebrated his 80th birthday that year, was present at the premiere of his opera at the Samara Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.
