Eduard Frantsevich Nápravnik was a Russian conductor and composer of Czech descent. In 1861, he was appointed by Prince Nikolay Borisovich Yusupov as the chief conductor of his orchestra in St. Petersburg. In 1863 he became the conductor’s assistant and organist, in 1867 he became the second conductor, and in 1869 – the first conductor of the Mariinsky Theater. From 1864 he was a conductor (in 1869-1881 – the director) of the concerts of the Russian Musical Society (RMS, from 1873 – Imperial RMS) in St. Petersburg. He was an outstanding performer of the music of Glinka, Tchaikovsky and other Russian composers. He composed numerous operas, orchestral and chamber works. The most significant composition by Napravnik is his opera “Dubrovsky” (1894).
Tchaikovsky dedicated his opera “The Maid of Orleans” to Napravnik.
