Alexander Ablesimov

Aleksander Onisimovich Ablesimov (Алекса́ндр Они́симович Абле́симов; September 9 1742 — 1783) was a Russian opera librettist, poet, dramatist, satirist, and journalist.

Biography
Worked as copyist for Alexander Sumarokov. Published his fables and satirical poems. Wrote the libretto for the early Russian-language opera by Mikhail Sokolovsky The miller who was a wizard, a cheat and a matchmaker (Мельник - колдун, обманщик и сват — Melnik - koldun, obmanshchik i svat 1779 Moscow, c.1795 St Petersburg), which was popular for three decades, and established a new operatic genre in Russia – a comedy about everyday life with spoken dialogue.

He also wrote libretti for two comic operas by M. Ekkel and a dramatic dialogue on the opening of Petrovka Theatre in Moscow.