Alexey Nikolaevich Verstovsky (1799, 1862) was a talented Russian musician, composer, and theatrical figure. He was a contemporary of Pushkin and an older contemporary of Glinka. In 1862, after his death, music critic A. Serov noted that Verstovsky was more popular than Glinka, referring to the enduring success of his opera "Askold's Grave."

Verstovsky's musical development took place in a favorable family environment. Music was often played in the house; his father had his own serf orchestra and a large music library. At the age of eight, Alexey began performing in amateur concerts as a pianist, and soon his inclination for composing music became evident.

In 1819, the twenty-year-old composer gained fame with the production of the vaudeville "Grandmother's Parrots." The success inspired Verstovsky to fully dedicate himself to the arts. Following the first vaudeville, he created "Quarantine," "The First Debut of Actress Troepolskaya," "The House of the Insane, or The Strange Wedding," and vaudeville became one of the favorite genres of the Russian public. His friendship with Alexander Pushkin also contributed to the development of his creativity. The poet and composer shared a deep appreciation for art and theater. In 1820, Pushkin wrote "The Black Shawl," and a few years later, Verstovsky created a romance based on it, which enjoyed immense success. One contemporary recalled how Verstovsky performed this piece in a salon, accompanied by A.S. Griboedov. Soon, the romance "The Black Shawl" was performed throughout Russia.

E.S. Telepnev in her diary on June 22, 1827, mentions the Ushakov sisters, who captivated Pushkin. In their home, everything reminded of the poet: on the table lay his works, among the sheet music, "The Black Shawl" and "Gypsy Song," on the piano, "The Talisman" and "The Kopeck," in the album, paintings, poems, and caricatures, and Pushkin's name was constantly heard in conversations.