Musical Society, The Russian

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MUSICAL SOCIETY, The Russian (in 1873-1917, it was called the Imperial Russian Musical Society; RMO, IRMO) was established in 1859 on the initiative of A. G. Rubinstein and Count Matv. Y. Vielgorsky (see the Vielgorsky Family). The aim of the Russian Musical Society as established by its charter was to develop education and musical taste in Russia and encourage local talent. For this purpose the society ran regular concerts, competitions for composers, performances and publications of their works, gave grants and operated a musical library. The revolution in the sphere of musical education began with the opening of the Free Musical Classes in 1860. It was followed by the establishment of the College of Music and the Conservatory in 1862. At the same time departments of the Russian Musical Society appeared in Moscow and in other large cities. Musical classes, colleges, conservatories fulfilling the general regulations and required level of education were established within a number of departments of the Russian Musical Society. The society invited teachers, arranged concerts, rendered help of various kinds to its students, attracted music lovers to participate in the concerts. The Main Board of Directors of the Russian Musical Society was established in St. Petersburg in 1865 with the purpose of managing the activities of the society. The St. Petersburg Department enjoyed comparative advantages yet it was to submit reports to the Board of Directors according to the regulations. Until 1873, the activities of the Russian Musical Society were under the patronage of Grand Princess Elena Pavlovna who annually raised considerable sums of money for the society. His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery financed the society after the death of Elena Pavlovna. Besides managing the Conservatory and the St. Petersburg Department, the Russian Musical Society arranged 10-12 symphonic concerts annually. It also organised addition chamber orchestra concerts and charitable concerts. All in all 28 concerts were held in the year of the organisations fiftieth anniversary (1909), including ten historical and ten public concerts in the Grand Hall of the Conservatory. European classics prevailed in the programmes, yet works by contemporary Russian composers were certainly included in every programme. Rubinstein (1859-67, 1882-83, 1886-87), M. A. Balakirev (1859-67), E. F. Napravnik (1869-82), L. S. Auer (1883-84, 1887-92), Hans von Bulow (1885-86), V. I. Safonov (1897-99) were among the conductors and heads of the symphonic orchestra. Later conductors were invited to separate concerts. A. K. Glazunov, N. N. Cherepnin, S. V. Rachmaninov often appeared in the 20th century. The Board of Directors of the Russian Musical Society was housed in the buildings belonging to the Conservatory, symphonic concerts were held in the halls of the Noble Assembly, the City Duma, and the Conservatory. Quartets were performed in the halls of the house of Benardaki (86 Nevsky Prospect), in Demidov's house on Moika River Embankment (at the place of house 64/1), in the building of the Credit Society etc.

References: Финдейзен Н. Ф. Очерк деятельности С.-Петербургского отделения Императорского Русского музыкального общества (1859-1909). СПб., 1909; Мохначева М. П. Русское музыкальное общество: История создания и организационное устройство // Актуальные проблемы истории русской культуры. М., 1991. С. 157-181.

A. L. Porfiryeva. Auer Leopold
Balakirev Mily Alexeevich
Bulow Hans von
Cherepnin Nikolay Nikolaevich
Elena Pavlovna, Grand Princess
Glazunov Alexander Konstantinovich
Napravnik Eduard Frantsevich
Rachmaninov Sergey Vasilievich
Rubinstein Anton Grigorievich
Safonov Vasily Ilyich
Vielgorsky Matvei Yurievich
Moika River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 64/1
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 86
Финдейзен Н. Ф. Очерк деятельности С.-Петербургского отделения Императорского Русского музыкального общества (1859-1909). СПб., 1909
Мохначева М. П. Русское музыкальное общество: История создания и организационное устройство // Актуальные проблемы истории рус. культуры. М., 1991 Chancellery, His Imperial Majesty's Personal
Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory
City Duma