Tchaikovsky
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Aleksandr Konstantinovich Glazunov

Александр Константинович Глазунов

Russian composer and conductor, born on 29 July/10 August 1865 in Saint Petersburg.

As a child, Glazunov had an exceptional ear and memory for music, and began to study piano at the age of nine, and wrote his first composition two years later. On Balakirev's recommendation, Glazunov took private lessons in composition from Nikolai Rimskii-Korsakov for almost two years (1879-81).

Tchaikovsky heard the premiere of Glazunov's First Symphony in 1882, although the two men only became personally acquainted two years later. Tchaikovsky took a great interest in the younger composer's career, and helped to publicise his music. They socialised regularly in Saint Petersburg, and Glazunov presented many inscribed copies of his works to the older composer, and dedicated his Third Symphony (1890) to Tchaikovsky.

Glazunov made his conducting debut in 1888, becoming principal conductor of the Russian Symphonic Concerts in Saint Petersburg, organised by Mitrofan Beliaev. In 1896 he conducted the premiere Tchaikovsky's student overture The Storm, which had never been performed during its author's lifetime. In 1899 Glazunov was appointed professor at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, and served as its director from 1905 until 1930. Following the First World War he spent an increasing amount of time outside Russia, and eventually settled in Paris with his wife Elena in 1932.

Aleksandr Glazunov died on 21 March 1936 in Neuilly-sur-Siene, near Paris, aged 70.