Where do the stars come from?

Leokadiya Kashperova (1872–1940), hitherto consigned to a footnote in musical history as Stravinsky’s piano teacher, is undergoing rediscovery. A double graduate of the St Petersburg Conservatoire, she emerged as a virtuoso pianist and composer in the romantic tradition. She was associated with some of the great musicians of her day, including Balakirev and Auer. She performed in both Germany and the UK in the 1900s, but her career petered out after 1920.

Following her graduation from the St Petersburg Conservatoire Kashperova became personally acquainted with the poet Yakov Polonsky and often attended his literary gatherings. When he died in 1898 Kashperova responded by setting his enchanting and mystical ‘legend’ To a Child in Answer to the Question: Where Do the Stars Come From? The baritone soloist takes the role of the father or grandfather who endeavours to answer the riddle posed in the title. He decides to relate ‘a tale of old, an Eastern legend’ which recounts how, long ago, the flowers would weep, so afraid were they of the dark. In response an archangel (soprano solo) descends to Earth and is so moved by the flowers’ anguished appeal, she gathers ‘all their tears in chalice gold / And bears them up to God in Heav’n above’. The baritone narrates the final scene as the Almighty casts the tears across the firmament, thus creating the constellations. The child’s question is answered, and the peaceful domesticity of the opening scene returns.