Modeste Petrovich Moussorgsky's happiest moment came on March 16, 1881, when, in a St. Petersburg hospital, surrounded by strangers, Fate permitted him to die. For 46 years he had been beaten by life. His first love, and his last and real love had died. He had lost his devoted mother. He had a permanent quarrel with his brother. He had had financial collapse, humiliating work as a government clerk at small pay in the department of woods and forestsworst of all, lack of recognition for his music. Final blow: his life-child, the opera Boris...
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