The merits of Reinhold Gliere are difficult to underestimate. Reinhold Gliere is a Russian composer, musician, public figure, author of music and the cultural anthem of St. Petersburg - he is also remembered as the founder of Russian ballet.
Reinhold Gliere's childhood and youth
Maestro's date of birth is December 30, 1874. He was born in Kyiv (at that time the city was part of the Russian Empire). Gliere's relatives were directly related to creativity. They made musical instruments.
Reingold chose a slightly different path for himself, but one way or another, he also focused on music. He was brought up in a large family. The head of the family managed to acquire a large plot of land in Kyiv and build a house with a workshop. A small factory for the production of musical instruments thundered throughout Europe.
Reingold disappeared for days in the workshop. He listened to the sound of musical instruments. Of course, already then he dreamed of a career as a musician.
Reingold received his profile education at the Moscow Music College. The young man composed his first compositions as a teenager. Small pieces for piano and violin were appreciated by the parents, who, by the way, supported Gliere in everything.
Then he managed to attend a concert Peter Tchaikovsky. The maestro's performance made an indelible impression on Reinhold. Later, he will say that after Tchaikovsky's performance, he finally decided to connect his life with music.
Without much effort, he managed to enter the Moscow Conservatory. Reingold entered the violin class, and began to hone his knowledge under the guidance of Sokolovsky.
In 1900 he successfully graduated from an educational institution. Throughout his life he improved his knowledge and experience. Glier took lessons in conducting, composition and violin playing from renowned European and Russian teachers.
The creative path of Reinhold Gliere
After graduating from the conservatory and for 10 years - Gliere was in a creative upsurge. His compositions were performed on the best Russian and European stages. Musical compositions of the maestro received awards to them. M. Glinka (unofficial source). From 1908 he worked as a conductor (by and large, the maestro conducted his own compositions).
A real sensation in the music world was the work "Ilya Muromets", which he presented in 1912 at the Moscow Conservatory. It turned the mind about classical music.
Soon Gliere received an offer to take a position at the Kyiv Conservatory. He surpassed himself and a year later became the rector of the educational institution. It took him only 7 years for Kyiv to become the leading concert city of the then Russian Empire. The real "cream" of society came here.
He paid great attention to Ukrainian works and folklore, for which he received special gratitude and respect from millions of Ukrainians. Gliere has dozens of ballets, operas, symphonic compositions, concertos, chamber and instrumental works to his credit.
Revolutionary times and activities of Reinhold Gliere
When the Bolsheviks were in power, the intelligentsia, including Gliere, began to suffer from injustice. During this period of time, the conservatories tried to requisition. Despite this, Reingold defended his offspring. The conservatory continued to exist, and almost the entire teaching staff remained in their positions.
After the Russian Revolution, he multiplied his status in Soviet society. But, he was still interested in the musical world. He organized concerts and continued to delight the audience with his unique conducting.
Soon, Reinhold Gliere received an offer from the rulers of Azerbaijan to visit sunny Baku. The composer not only played a number of concerts, but also composed a chic symphonic work "Shahsenem".
Returning to his homeland, he set about creating one of the most famous ballets. We are talking about the work "Red Flower". Later, he will say the following about the work: "I have always worked, understanding the main requests of ordinary people."
At the end of the 20s, the maestro moved to Moscow. For two decades he taught at the conservatory. This was quite enough to produce an uncountable number of talented musicians and composers.
Reingold Gliere: details of the maestro's personal life
Even before gaining recognition, he married his student. The talented Swede Maria Rehnquist became the wife of the maestro. She was the only wife of Gliere. The couple was raising 5 children.
The last years of the life and death of the composer Reinhold Gliere
After the 50s of the last century, he was inspired by Ukrainian culture. During this period of time, he completes work on the masterpiece symphonic poem "Zapovit". Then he began to work on the ballet "Taras Bulba".
Despite the fact that in the last years of his life he spent on the territory of Moscow, this did not prevent him from touring his native lands. The maestro's performance at this time is being watched by residents of large Ukrainian cities.
During World War II, he wrote the famous Fourth String Quartet. In the post-war years, he started working on The Bronze Horseman and Taras Bulba.
Alas, in the mid-50s, his health deteriorated greatly. Doctors insisted that the composer should not burden himself and work hard. Gliere held the "defense" to the end - he is nobody without music. He died on June 23, 1956. Death came as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage. His body was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery.
