Anatolii Aleksandrov

Aleksandrov, Anatolii Nikolaevich 

Born May 13 (25), 1888, in Moscow. Composer. Became People’s Artist of the RSFSR in 1964, doctor of art history in 1941.

Aleksandrov studied harmony with N. S. Zhiliaev and counterpoint with S. I. Taneev during 1907–10 and then attended the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied piano with K. N. Igumnov and composition with S. N. Vasilenko until 1916. He has been an instructor since 1923 and a professor of composition at the Moscow Conservatory since 1926.

Aleksandrov’s music is delicately poetic and refined. He is at his best in vocal and instrumental chamber music—such works as the cycle of romances From M. Kuzmin’s Alexandrian Songs (four books: 1915, 1922, 1924–25, 1927), Loyalty (State Prize of the USSR, 1951), and music to poems of Russian classical poets. He has also written operas (including Bela, based on Lermontov’s story, produced in 1946 by a branch of the Bolshoi Theater, orchestral works (including a symphony and symphonic suites), four quartets, 12 piano sonatas, and music for plays and films. He has been awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, and medals.

REFERENCES

Beliaev, V. M. A. N. Aleksandrov. Moscow, 1927.
Stepanov, O. “Vdokhnovennoe masterstvo.” Sov. muzyka, 1967, no. 7.
Feinberg, S. “K 70–letiiu Anatoliia Aleksandrova.” Sov. muzyka, 1958, no. 5.

G. M. TSYPIN