Aleksandr Konstantinovich Glazunov

Aleksandr Glazunov (1865–1936) was a composer, conductor, and educator born in St. Petersburg in the Russian Empire who worked during the transition from the late Romantic era to modern music. A student of Rimsky-Korsakov, he developed a style that combined the color and lyricism of the Russian nationalist school with the balance of Western formal traditions. His rich melodies, orderly structures, and assured orchestration are evident in his symphonies, ballet music, and concertos. Among his best-known works are the ballet The Seasons, the Violin Concerto, and Symphony No. 5. He also wrote piano sonatas, sets of preludes and fugues, and a piano concerto, bringing together technical demands, classical clarity, lyrical expression, and distinctly Russian sonorities. As director of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, he played an important role in educating the next generation of musicians. He spent his final years working in France.