Glazunov

Alexander Konstantin Glazunov (1865–1936) was a Russian composer, conductor, and teacher whose work helped shape Russian music at the turn of the 20th century. Born in Saint Petersburg to a musical family, he entered the Saint Petersburg Conservatory as a child prodigy and soon emerged as one of Russia’s leading composers of his generation.

Glazunov’s music blends late Romantic lyricism with a clear formal discipline and polished orchestration. He wrote symphonies, concertos, overtures, and chamber works, as well as ballet scores that enjoyed prominent stagings in Imperial Russia. His best-known ballet is Raymonda (1898), a centerpiece of the Russian ballet repertoire. In addition to orchestral and ballet music, he contributed songs, choral works, and piano music.

As a teacher and administrator, Glazunov played a central role at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, serving as director from 1905 to 1928. In that position he shaped curriculum and mentoring, influencing a generation of composers who carried Russian musical traditions into the 20th century’s Soviet era. His approachable style and craftsmanship helped sustain a bridge between 19th‑century Romanticism and evolving modern idioms.

Glazunov’s legacy rests on his refined melodic gift, vivid orchestration, and steadfast craftsmanship. While his music is less prominent in popular concert programs today than some contemporaries, it is regularly revived for its historical importance and technical polish, with Raymonda remaining a staple in ballet companies and his symphonic and chamber works still performed by orchestras and ensembles worldwide.