Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936)

Alexander Glazunov was born in St. Petersburg in 1865. He studied piano from the age of 9. During his teens, he came to the attention of Mili Blakirev who introduced him to Rimsky-Korsakov. Glazunov became Rimsky-Korsakov’s student and musical colleague.

His Symphony No. 1 premiered when he was just 16. Further support came from Mitrofan Belyayev, a wealthy timber merchant, who promoted Glazunov’s work by organising tours, concerts and publishing his music.

Glazunov enjoyed international popularity and acclaim. His works were conservative, combining the Germanic Classical with Russian nationalism. He was also an accomplished conductor, directing the Russian Symphony Concerts in 1896. Although in 1897 Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 1 failed after Glazunov was alleged to have been drunk during the direction.

Much of Glazunov’s career was spent teaching music. He was appointed professor of the St. Petersburg Conservatory and later became director. Following the first World War Glazunov helped reorganise and improve the Conservatory. By 1928 his conservative approach was being challenged and he left the Conservatory and Russia to tour Europe and the US before finally settling in Paris.

Glazunov’s ballet The Seasons has become his most popular concert work. Other key and enduring works are the Violin Concerto and Symphony No. 5. His last composition written in 1934 was the Saxophone Concerto. He died in Paris in 1936 at the age of 70.