Composer Glazunov a historic bridges builder
In
the world of music 2015 is different. It is unlike other years and the reason is this year we have nothing to celebrate in terms of jubilees of giant composers, leaders or their époques.
We have seen celebrations of bicentenary anniversary of Chopin or Liszt and in 2013 the centenary anniversary of Verdi and Wagner. All programs were crystal clear — the Philharmonics, Opera Theatres, concerts, competitions, articles and programs in media.
When it comes to these occasions, there is no hesitation because we have to celebrate, remember, refresh our minds and make them popular.
For music this year is unique because on the calendar of anniversaries it is difficult to find even the names of a composer supposedly ‘loved’ by even moderate music enthusiasts.
Nonetheless, who is excited about the 500th birth anniversary of Monseigneur di Scadre (FrancoFlemmish composer) or the death of Matthaeus Pipelare (Netherlandish composer of 11 masses)? Who wants to know (except the musicologists) something more about Krsto Odak (Croatia, 1888-1965) or Jan Jakub Ryba (Czech, 1765-1815)?
Music and art, I feel, are somehow unjust and cruel (whatever name you want to give it) for even the most devoted people. Maybe like the entire life itself is?
I am not against celebrating the achievements of people who were genius because without workers in the vineyard there can be no harvest. We have to remember about the harvest and the workers too. They are the icing on the cake and the yeast because without them there would be no cake or bread for holiday and for every day. As a result, there must a kind of compromise.
For the entire 2015 I found on the music calendar just three names of composers who somehow seem to have attracted the attention of music enthusiasts — Russian Alexander Glazunov, Finnish Jean Sibelius and Danish Carl Nielsen. All of them celebrate 150th birth anniversary. All of them were the very eminent persons for their nations’ culture and most importantly development of music history. In alphabetical order Alexander Glazunov comes first and here I would like to shed some light on his life and achievements.
Contemporary
He was a composer — ‘historic bridges builder’: between Romantic and contemporary era or nationalism and cosmopolitanism in Russian music, tsarist and Bolshevik era in Russian history.
It was a very important and a very uncomfortable position, isn’t it? Symbolically it is the name of the city he was born in: Saint Petersburg, the second largest city of Russia founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703 as a new capital.
During the life of Glazunov this city has changed names into Petrograd, then Leningrad and finally has come to its originality Saint Petersburg, meanwhile passing through unbelievable historical events, turmoil even tragedies.
Alexander Glazunov was born in 1865 into a wealthy family. His father was a prominent publisher and book trader but mother was a good pianist. She much influenced Alex’ music education and even hired the best piano teachers for him. The son paid back his mother’s efforts with great progress and — eagerness to study.
At 13 he already was acknowledged as a great talent for composition and was introduced to Mily Balakirev, a respected founder and leader of the national schools of composers known as The Five or The Mighty Handful. In terms of music they represented the stream of Russian Romantic Nationalism and except for Balakirev brought together Alexander Borodin, Cesar Cui, Modest Mussorgsky and Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
The latter remembers: ‘Once Balakirev casually brought to me the composition of 14-year-old school student, Alexander Glazunov. It was an orchestral score written in childish fashion. The boy’s talent was indubitably clear.’ Rimsky-Korsakov began to teach Alex, because ‘His musical development came not by the day, but literally by the hour’. He was a bright student able to cover the entire Conservatory program in just a year-and-a-half.
At 16 he composed his 1st Symphony which was presented at the Moscow Exhibition which was conducted by Master Rimsky-Korsakov himself.
Glazunov’s life was rather an exception to the ‘standard’ of composers: liv- ing in poverty, working hard amid criticism and receiving fame rather very late in life and in many cases posthumous.
As a teenager he was lucky to meet an exceptional sponsor, a timber magnate and lover of music. Mitrofan Belyaev was friend and sponsor of The Five and their concerts known as the Russian Symphony Concerts helped bring them to the attention of the public.
He also became a patron of Alex, and took him on a tour of Western Europe in 1884. Thanks to him Glazunov met Franz Liszt in Weimar, where Alex’s First Symphony was performed. (The patron rented out a hall and hired an orchestra to play Alex works.)
Popularized
He was also the one who organized, for Glazunov, two concerts in Paris during the World Exhibition in 1889. The timber tycoon financed publishing works of Russian composers, especially Glazunov and The Five. Let say that because of his both — wealth and good will he popularized the Russian music of this era bringing it to the world stages.
Glazunov soon enjoyed international acclaim and successes abroad mainly brought success in his native country. He was elected director of St Petersburg Conservatory at the height of his creative power. He composed his best works as the 8th Symphony, Violin Concerto, ballets and string quartets. Before the celebration of his 25th anniversary of his debut he received the Honorary Doctorate from the Oxford and Cambridge universities.
As a teacher, his sensitivity and kindness made him a legend among students and staff. He showed great care for the young. He thought it was necessary to attend all examinations. In a month he listened to 771 auditions and wrote a personal report about each student. He admitted students solely for their talents, nevertheless for social or financial status. He often spent his own salary to help the poorer students. To one such student Glazunov provided a very generous help, which allowed him to continue his studies. If it hadn’t been for Glazunov, the 20th century may have never received one of the greatest composers of its time.
Great and small, noble and funny elements are harmonized in every human life: Beside teaching responsibilities, Glazunov interfered into maintenance issues as well. He joked that he had to master plumbing pipes in order to properly run the Conservatory!
Balance
The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 brought deep change to Russia. For the Communists music as every art was a tool of propaganda. The new demands were not easy for Glazunov, who had to balance calls for propaganda and his real life work. The fact that the Bolsheviks tolerated Glazunov can perhaps be explained by the high profits they expected from cooperation.
A composer of world fame, speaking several languages, awarded the Doctorate of Oxford and Cambridge would be a cherry on the cake at different propaganda events. He conducted concerts in factories, clubs and Red Army posts. However, continuous attacks from newly appointed professors for academism, traditionalism, conservatism and so on depressed him deeply.
He was invited to conduct his works in Paris, Portugal, Spain, England, Poland, Netherlands and the United States. Travelling with him was Olga Gavrilova who became his wife when he was 64.
During his tour he fell ill and after treatment in Germany he decided to migrate and settled in Paris. The pair adopted, Elena, the young pianist who presented for the first time in Paris Glazunov 2nd Piano Concerto Op, 100. Even after migrating to France he remained in touch with the Russian musicians and followed their successes, especially the career of his favorite, poor but talented, student.
I think it is time enough to disclose his name — Dmitri Shostakovich.
He died in 1936 in France and in 1972 and laid to rest in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in St Petersburg.
It teaches us that although not so known today some people and their lives are very important, sometimes so fruitful and — worthwhile to know, isn’t it?
PS. On Friday, May 9, at 8:00 pm at AlHashemi II — Radisson Blu Hotel we will have the opportunity to enjoy original Russian music by the world renowned ensemble ‘PARAPHRASE’ on authentic Russian instruments like balalaikas or accordion with singer soloist Larisa Golikova — with the music which has inspired the Russians from Tchaikovsky to Shostakovich. Let us enjoy!
Editor’s Note: