Alexandrinsky Theatre
"Fomka" was the second of Rubinstein's operas to be performed. It was commissioned, together with two other one-act operas, "The Siberian Hunters" and "Vengeance", by the Grand Duchess Yelena Pavlovna. The first performance was on at the Alexandrinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. The title role was sung by Lev Leonov, the son of the pianist John Field.