An Early Evening Stroll

This is the first of two episodes devoted to the Russian composer Alexander Alexandrovich Alabiev, also known as Alexander Alyabyev.

His course of life can definitely be called exciting. In 1787, he was born into a rich family in Tobolsk, Siberia, where his father was governor. He learned to play the piano and compose at an early age. In 1812, he joined the Russian army. He fought against Napoleon’s troops, and reached Dresden and Paris with the army. After the Napoleonic wars, he remained in the army, but he was no longer really interested.

In 1828, he was sentenced on dubious grounds, for a murder that had taken place in 1825 and which he, most probably, did not commit. Nevertheless, Tsar Nicholas I insisted that all his titles be taken away from him, and that he would be banished to Siberia for life. So, Alabiev returned to his native town, Tobolsk. In 1831, his punishment was withdrawn, and finally he went back to Moscow, where he died in 1851.

The banishment didn’t do any harm to Alabiev as a composer, on the contrary. In general, the compositions he wrote after 1825 are considered to be much better than his earlier ones. It’s true that Glinka is often called ‘the father of Russian music’, but Alexander Alabiev could also rightfully claim this title.

Playlist:

1. Alexander Alabiev: ‘El Ruisenor’ (The Nightingale). Elvira de Hidalgo, soprano; unknown orchestra
2. Alexander Alabiev: Quartet for 4 Flutes in G major. Alexander Korneyev, Albert Hoffmann, Vladimir Pakulichev, Leonid Lebedev, flute
3. Alexander Alabiev: Symphony for four Horns and Orchestra. Valery Zhavoronkov, Alexei Melnikov, Jury Grevtsev, Sergei Vaskovich, horn; Musica Viva Chamber Orchestra conducted by Alexander Rudin
4. Alexander Alabiev: Piano Quintet in E-flat major. Artur Chermonov, Vladimir Babeshko, Beethoven Trio
5. Alexander Alabiev: Overture for Orchestra in F minor. Moscow State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alexander Korneyev
6. Alexander Alabiev: Overture Three Tens, or The New Two Day Adventure – Musica Viva Chamber Orchestra conducted by Alexander Rudin