August 13, 1768:
After three years in Russia, Baldassare Galuppi (61) crosses the border out of the country on his return to Venice. Accompanying him is his pupil, Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (17).
November 26, 1776:
Creonte, a dramma per musica by Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (25) to words of Coltellini, is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Benedetto, Venice.
May 28, 1777:
Marquise Pablo Maruzzi, the Russian charges d’affaires in Venice, writes to Ivan Perfilyevich Yelagin suggesting that the allowance for Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (26) be cut off. His opera produced last November was a failure, he has not submitted it for revisions to Baldassare Galuppi (70), and he is not attending to his studies.
December 26, 1778:
Quinto Fabio, a dramma serio by Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (27) to words of Zeno, is performed for the first time, in the Court Theatre, Modena.
December 7, 1779:
Seven months after his call home, Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (28) crosses the border into Russia on his way from Italy to St. Petersburg.
January 29, 1780:
A salary is authorized for Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (29) in his new position of director of ecclesiastical music at the St. Petersburg court.
October 22, 1786:
Le faucon, an opéra-comique by Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (35) to words of Lafermière after Boccaccio and Sedaine, is performed for the first time, at Gatchina Palace, south of St. Petersburg.
October 22, 1787:
Le fils-rival ou La modèrne Stratonice, an opéra-comique by Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (36) to words of Lafermière, is performed for the first time, in Pavlovsk.
November 22, 1796:
Five days after taking the throne, Tsar Pavel of Russia delivers an imperial ukaz appointing Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (45) to the post of Director of Music and Adminstrator of the Imperial Court Kapella. He also promotes Bortnyansky to the rank of Collegiate Councillor.
May 9, 1797:
Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (46) is promoted by Tsar Pavel to the rank of State Counsellor (equal to a brigadier general).
September 13, 1804:
Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (53) is unanimously voted an Honorable Member of the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg.
November 30, 1806:
Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (55) is promoted by Tsar Alyeksandr to the rank of Active State Counsellor (equal to a major general).
January 30, 1810:
A plan by administrator of the Russian Imperial Kapella Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (59) to expand the choristers’ education beyond violin to viola, cello, and double bass goes into effect.
November 13, 1810:
The building housing the Russian Imperial Kapella is inaugurated as the House of the Kapella. It was recently bought and renovated by the Russian government under the leadership of the director of the Kapella, Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (59).
August 7, 1815:
The Holy Governing Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church orders the publication of 3,600 copies of Simple chant for the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom traditionally used at the Imperial Court from the earliest times. It is a two-part setting of commonly used chants by Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (64).
February 26, 1816:
The Holy Governing Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decrees that no new compositions be used in churches without the approval of the Director of the Imperial Kapella, Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (65). This makes him one of the most powerful musical figures in Russia.
October 10, 1825:
Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky requests that the Imperial Kapella, which he directs, come to his residence in St. Petersburg, Russia and sing his favorite concerto, My Heart is Filled With Every Sorrow. When the chorus concludes the work, Bortnyansky is found to have died of a stroke while they were singing. He is aged approximately 74 years. His mortal remains will be laid to rest in Smolensky Cemetery, St. Petersburg. (The story of the singing may be apochryphal)