With the opera “Die Maccabäer”, Anton Rubinstein created a warlike opera based on religious conflicts between Judeans and Syrians; the end leads neither to more understanding nor to redemption. The title refers to the leaders of a Jewish revolt against the Seleucids. They defeated the Hasmoneans and secured the hereditary rule of the Jews for 100 years. The Russian composer, pianist and conductor Anton Grigoryevich Rubinstein was born in Vikhvatinets on 28 November 1829. His older brother Nikolai was the founder of the Moscow Conservatory. Anton Rubinstein himself, regarded as a great piano virtuoso of the 19th century, was Tchaikovsky’s composition teacher.
The opera was composed between 1872 and 1874 and premiered at the Berlin Court Opera on 17 April 1875. It was sung by such great singers of the time as Louisa Horina, Lilli Lehmann and Franz Betz. “Die Maccabäer” became Rubinstein’s most successful opera; for example, there were five further productions in German-speaking countries in the first five years after the premiere. There have been performances until 1907, among others in Frankfurt am Main. Interest in Rubinstein’s operas declined rapidly after his death.3 Due to Russian censorship, “Die Maccabäer” could only be performed in Russia after 1877. …
