Konstantin Tarnovsky

Russian writer, dramatist and translator (b. 1826; d. 1892), born Konstantin Avgustovich Tarnovsky (Константин Августович Тарновский); also known by the pseudonyms Semyon Raysky (Семен Райский) and Yevstrafy Berendeyev (Евстафий Берендеев).

Tarnovsky graduated from Moscow University, and became secretary to the board of the Moscow Imperial Theatres, and later inspector of repertory. Tarnovsky wrote and adapted up to 150 plays under his own name and the pseudonyms Raysky and Berendeyev. From 1855, he was assistant director of repertory and secretary to the director of the Imperial Theatres in Moscow, He met Tchaikovsky in the mid–1860s through their mutual friend Nikolay Rubinstein.

Tarnovsky wrote several songs and vaudevilles, and numerous review articles in the Russian, French and German press.