Month: January 2025

On November 12, 1833, in Saint Petersburg, at 9 Gagarinskaya Street, a boy named Alexander was born. His father was Luka Gedianov, a 60-year-old Georgian prince, and his mother was Avdotya Antonova, a 24-year-old housekeeper and the daughter of a soldier [1]. According to the laws of the time, an illegitimate child could not be … Continue reading “Alexander Borodin – A Familiar Stranger”

‘Have you heard? Clementi has arrived! How can you not know Muzio Clementi? He’s the famous entrepreneur, pianist, and composer!’ The news of the arrival of the renowned musician instantly spread throughout musical Saint Petersburg in December 1802 [1]. There were plenty of people eager to acquire pianos from the ‘Clement Collard’ company and take … Continue reading “John Field’s Legacy in the Irish Musical Landscape”

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was undoubtedly a man of the world in the broadest sense. He first heard English as a child in Votkinsk, where English technology was used and English engineers were employed. According to the composer’s brother Modest, the Tchaikovsky home was ‘a gathering place for all of Votkinsk’ frequented by the refined and … Continue reading “Tchaikovsky’s Lifelong Dialogue with British Culture”

In the heart of Nizhny Novgorod, young Mily Balakirev cherished a quiet corner adorned with sacred icons, gifts that nourished his early spiritual life. Alongside his family, Balakirev regularly attended church, embedding a deep sense of tradition from a young age. However, his years at the all-male gymnasium revealed another side to him—known for his … Continue reading “Mily Balakirev: A Musical Journey Shaped by Personal and Cultural Forces”