Balakirev M.A., (1836-1910) , composer

Categories / Art/Music, Theatre/Personalia
BALAKIREV Mily Alexeevich (1836-1910, St. Petersburg), composer, pianist, conductor, music and public figure. Studied at the Mathematics Department of Kazan University. Lived in St. Petersburg from 1855, making his debut as a composer and pianist in 1856 at university concerts. In 1856-62, he came together with C.A. Cui, M.P. Musorgsky, N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, A.P. Borodin, and V.V. Stasov, leading the circle known as Balakirev"s Circle, the New Russian Musical School, The Mighty Handful (or The Five). In 1862, together with G.Y. Lomakin, he established the Free School of Music, acting as its director in 1868-73 and 1881-1908. In 1867-69, he headed the symphonic assemblies of the Russian Musical Society. In 1883-94 he directed the Court Capella. Balakariev was an outstanding and controversial figure in Petersburg culture. He supported diverging points of view at different periods in his life. Composed and wrote many of musical works. The following works have entered the Russian Classics: Overture from Three Russian Songs (1858, Glinka Prize of 1884), the symphonic poems Tamara (1882) and Rus (1887), the piano fantasy Islamey (1869), and brilliant piano interpretations of M.I. Glinka"s works and romances. He also took interest in folklore. Published a collection of Russian folk songs (1866). The Five gathered at the flat of Glinka"s sister, L.A. Shestakova, at 30 Gagarinskaya Street. In 1861, Balakirev lived at 17 Ofitserskaya Street; in 1865-73 in the courtyard house at 86 Nevsky Prospect; and from 1882 at 7 Kolomenskaya Street, where he died (memorial plaque installed). Buried at the Necropolis of Artists.

References: Милий Алексеевич Балакирев: Летопись жизни и творчества. Л., 1967; Зайцева Т. А. М. А. Балакирев: Истоки. СПб., 2000.

A. L. Porfiryeva. Balakirev Mily Alexeevich
Borodin Alexander Porfirievich
Cui Cesar Antonovich
Glinka Mikhail Ivanovich
Lomakin Gavriil Yakimovich (Ioakimovich)
Mussorgsky Modest Petrovich
Rimsky-Korsakov Nikolay Andreevich
Shestakova Lyudmila Ivanovna
Stasov Vladimir Vasilievich
Dekabristov St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 17
Gagarinskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 30
Kolomenskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 7
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 76
Милий Алексеевич Балакирев: Летопись жизни и творчества. Л., 1967
Зайцева Т. А. М. А. Балакирев: Истоки. СПб., 2000 University Concerts
Free Music School
Musical Society, The Russian
Necropolis of Artists
1862