Asafyev B. V. , (1884-1949) music theorist and composer

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ASAFYEV Boris Vladimirovich (penname Igor Glebov) (1884, St. Petersburg - 1949), music theorist, composer, People"s Artist of the USSR (1946), member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1946). Asafyev graduated from the Faculty of History and Philosophy of St. Petersburg University (1908) and the Conservatory (1910). In 1910 he accepted an appointment as concertmaster of the Mariinsky Theatre Ballet, and concurrently wrote critical reviews for Music Journal and a number of other periodicals. In 1919-30 Asafyev worked in the Institute of the History of Arts, and co-operated with the Bolshoy Drama Theatre and Old St. Petersburg Society. In 1925 Asafyev was awarded professorship and began teaching at the Conservatory. One of the leading music theorists, he approached music art within a philosophic and socio-cultural context. In the 1930-50s he was also a celebrated composer, creating 28 ballets, 11 operas, 4 symphonies, numerous chamber music pieces and music for theatre performances. The State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre performances of The Flames of Paris (1932) and The Fountain of Bakhchisaray (1934) won broad recognition. Besides, the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre gave performances of his ballets Lost Illusion (1935), Partisans" Days (1937), and Christmas Eve (1938). Maly Opera and Ballet Theatre (see Mussorgsky Opera and Ballet Theatre) staged The Prisoner of the Caucasus (1938) and Ashik-Kerib (1940). In 1941-43 during the siege of Leningrad Asafyev wrote an essay series entitled Thoughts and Contemplations.” The chapter of the series entitled On Russian Painting was published in Leningrad and Moscow in 1966. In 1943 he moved to Moscow and in 1948 was elected Chairman of the Composers’ Union of the USSR. Asafyev was awarded the Stalin Prize (1943, 1948). He was born in the house at 139 Nevsky Prospect, and lived at 147 Nevsky Prospect, in 1914-17 - at 10 Mokhovaya Street, in 1922 - at 25 Konyushennaya Street, in 1933-43 - at 6 Truda Square (memorial plaque).

References: Орлова Е. М. Б. В. Асафьев: Путь исследователя и публициста. Л., 1964.

A. L. Porfiryeva. Asafyev Boris Vladimirovich
Mussorgsky Modest Petrovich
Bolshaya Konyushennaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 25
Mokhovaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 18
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 147
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 139
Truda Square/Saint Petersburg, city, house 6
Орлова Е. М. Б. В. Асафьев: Путь исследователя и публициста. Л., 1964
Петр Ильич Чайковский: Его жизнь и творчество. Пб., 1922
Музыкальная форма как процесс. Л., 1971
Избр. труды: В 5 т. М., 1952-1957
Русская музыка, XIX и начало XX века. 2-е изд. Л., 1979
Симфонические этюды. Л., 1970
Книга о Стравинском. Л., 1977 Composers, The Union of
Mussorgsky Opera and Ballet Theatre