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Alexander Aleksandrovich Alyabyev (Russian: Александр Александрович Алябьев) (15 August [O.S. 4 August] 1787, Tobolsk – 6 March [O.S. 22 February] 1851, Moscow) was a Russian composer. He wrote seven operas, twenty musical comedies, more than 200 romances, and many other pieces. His most famous work is The Nightingale, a romance based on a poem written by Anton Delvig.
[edit] Biography
Born to a wealthy family, he learnt music in his early years. He joined the Russian Army in 1812, during the Napoleonic war, and fought as an officer until 1823. He won two awards.
Arrested in 1825, after the mysterious death of a man he spent all night gambling with, he was banished to Siberia in 1828. Freed in 1843, he lived mostly in Moscow until his death in 1851.
He is also often credited as Alabieff, sometimes as Alabiev.
- Morning and Evening (a vaudeville);
- Moonlight night, The House-spirit (operas);
- Celebration of muses (which opened the Bolshoi Theatre (1825);
- Magic drum, or the Consequence of the Magic flute (a ballet);
He composed The Nightingale in prison, in 1825. This piece became very popular: Liszt and Glinka wrote piano variations on his theme.
[edit] External links