Philharmonic Society

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PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY, a musical, educational and trustee society, organisation of St. Petersburg professional musicians. It was established in 1802 as a charitable organisation, called the Aid Fund of Musicians’ Widows. Its founding members were Baron A. A. Rall, Baron F. Adelung, several musicians of the Court Orchestra intended to raise capital giving several large annual concerts from which pensions would be paid to widowed families of the members of the society, following the example of the Vienna Philharmonic Society. Count Mikhail Y. Vielgorsky (see the Vielgorsky Family) was among the honorary directors. The artistic goal of the Philharmonic Society was to inspire interest among the public in old and contemporary styles of classical music. The Philharmonic Society gave two to three concerts annually (in 1802-1902, 205 concerts were held); performed long vocal and oratorical compositions gathering the best artistic talent in the capital: the Court Singing Choir (see the Glinka Memorial Choir), famous soloists and conductors. In March 1802, the Creation of the World oratorio by J. Hadyn was performed twice. St. Petersburg premieres of The Messiah by G. F. Handel, The Grand Mass by L. Beethoven, author's concerts by R. Wagner (1863), P. I. Tchaikovsky (1887 and 1888) were among the most important musical events during 100 year history of the Philharmonic Society. Concerts of the Philharmonic Society were first arranged in the hall of I. Lion (today the Small Philharmonic Hall); in the 1820-30s, they were arranged in the New Philharmonic Hall in the house of Count V. P. Orlov-Davydov at 20 Angliiskaya Embankment; from 1839, they were arranged at the Noble Assembly and in the Bolshoy Theatre. The activity of the Philharmonic Society gradually ceased at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1805, 105 musicians joined the Philharmonic Society; while in 1915, only 39 members remained. A number of compositions, including the overture Night in Madrid by Glinka were devoted to the Philharmonic Society. Work aiming to revive the Philharmonic Society started in 1989. In 1992, the society gave the first concert in the Bolshoy Philharmonic Hall. In 2002, it celebrated its tenth anniversary by organising a series of six concerts. The president of the society is A. P. Petrov. The Relief Fund for Gifted, Young Musicians, and Specialised Musical Classes (on basis of the Children's Musical School № 11 of Vasileostrovsky District) have been established at the Philharmonic Society. St Petersburg Bank supports the Philharmonic Society.

References: Альбрехт Е. К. Общий обзор деятельности высочайше учрежденного С.-Петербургского филармонического общества. СПб., 1884; Березовский Б. Л. Филармоническое общество Санкт-Петербурга: История и современность. СПб., 2002.

A. L. Porfiryeva. Adelung Fedor Pavlovich
Beethoven Ludwig van
Glinka Mikhail Ivanovich
Handel Georg Friedrich
Haydn Franz Joseph
Lion I.
Orlov-Davydov Vladimir Petrovich, Count
Petrov Andrey Pavlovich
Rall Alexander Franz, Baron
Tchaikovsky Peter Ilyich
Vielgorsky Mikhail Yurievich
Wagner Richard
Альбрехт Е. К. Общий обзор деятельности высочайше учрежденного С.-Петербургского филармонического общества. СПб., 1884
Березовский Б. Л. Филармоническое общество Санкт-Петербурга: История и современность. СПб., 2002 Glinka Capella
1802
1813