The Russian Symphony Concerts () were a series of Russian classical music concerts hosted by timber magnate and musical philanthropist Mitrofan Belyayev in St. Petersburg as a forum for young Russian composers to have their orchestral works performed. While a number of works by these composers were performed, pieces written by composers of the previous generation such as Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Mily Balakirev were also played there.
History The idea for the Russian Symphony Concerts was Rimsky-Korsakov's. He had become acquainted with Belyayev at the weekly "quartet Fridays" ("Les Vendredis") held at Belayev's home. Belayev had already taken a keen interest in the musical future of the teenage Alexander Glazunov,Rimsky-Korsakov, 274. who had been one of Rimsky-Korsakov's composition students. In 1884, Belayev rented out a hall and hired an orchestra to play Glazunov's First Symphony plus an orchestral suite Glazunov had just composed.Rimsky-Korsakov, 275. Glazunov was to conduct part of this concert.Rimsky-Korsakov, 275. Seeing he was not ready to do this, Rimsky-Korsakov volunteered to take his place.Rimsky-Korsakov, 275. This "rehearsal," as Rimsky-Korsakov called it, went well and pleased both Belayev and the invited audience.Rimsky-Korsakov, 276. Buoyed by the success of the rehearsal, Belayev decided the following season to give a public concert of works by Glazunov and other composers.Rimsky-Korsakov, 278. Rimsky-Korsakov's piano concerto was played, along with Glazunov's symphonic poem Stenka Razin.Rimsky-Korsakov, 278.
Both the rehearsal the previous year and this concert gave Rimsky-Korsakov the idea of offering several concerts per year featuring Russian compositions.Rimsky-Korsakov, 279. The number of orchestral compositions was growing, and there were always difficulties in having the Russian Musical Society and other organizations program them.Rimsky-Korsakov, 279. Rimsky-Korsakov mentioned the idea to Belayev. Belayev liked it,Rimsky-Korsakov, 279. inaugurating the Russian Symphony Concerts during the 1886–1887 season.Rimsky-Korsakov, 279, 281. Rimsky-Korsakov shared conducting duties for these concerts.Rimsky-Korsakov, 279.
In 1889 Belyayev engaged Rimsky-Korsakov to conduct two such concerts at the Paris Exposition. Rimsky-Korsakov recalled that although the performances, held at the Trocadéro on 22 and 29 June involving the Concerts Colonne orchestra, had gone well, the audiences had been meagre due to Belyayev's reluctance to advertise the concerts.Rimsky-Korsakov. My Musical Life: pp. 301-02 Nonetheless, the programmes of works by Glinka, Glazunov, Tchaikovsky and Lyadov, as well as works by "the mighty handful" made a profound impression on Maurice Ravel and Ricardo Viñes, who made a point of obtaining a piano duet arrangement of Rimsky-Korsakov's Antar Symphony. So started what was to be an important influence on Ravel's own work.Nichols, Roger. Ravel: pp. 10-11
Glazunov was appointed conductor for the series in 1896. The following year, he led the disastrous premiere of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No 1. While Glazunov's conducting skills were not especially strong and he used his rehearsal time poorly, his alcoholism may have contributed to the debacle.Norris, New Grove, 709.
Concerts The programs for the concerts held between March 27, 1894, and February 4, 1895, were published by Vladimir Stasov in the Russian-language journal, Musical Gazette, in 1895. It is often unclear whether a work is being premiered or whether it is being premiered within the context of the Concert series. +YearDateComposerWorks PremieredNon-Premiere Works1884March 27Alexander GlazunovSymphony No. 1Suite No. 1 Unfinished Suite no. 21885November 23A. GlazunovStenka RazinSymphony No. 2 (Borodin) Maria's Romance from William Ratcliff (Cesar Cui)
Concerto for piano and orchestra (Rimsky-Korsakov)
Mazurka (Balakirev)
Mvt. 6 from Mosaïque Op.15 (Nikolai Shcherbachov)
Etude (Anatoly Lyadov)
No. 8 of Persian Songs, Op. 34 (Anton Rubinstein)
"On the hills of Georgia" (Rimsky-Korsakov)
No. 16 of 20 Romances (Mily Balakirev)
The Tempest Fantasy (Pyotr Tchaikovsky)1886October 15Modest MussorgskyNight on Bald MountainOverture on Russian Themes, 28 (Rimsky-Korsakov) Sérénade mélancolique (Tchaikovsky)
Idylle religieuse (Glazunov)
2 Morceaux, Op.24 (Cui)
Symphony No. 1 (Borodin)October 22Overture on a Spanish March Theme, Op.6 (Balakirev) Tisbe's Arioso from Angelo (Cui)
Andante lugubre (Nikolay Sokolov)
Scherzo (Felix Blumenfeld)
Three romances (Sokolov, Blumenfeld, Rimsky-Korsakov)
Stenka Razin (Glazunov)
Symphony No. 1 (Tchaikovsky)October 29A. GlazunovOverture No.2 on Greek Themes, Op.6 [possible]Symphony No. 3 (Rimsky-Korsakov) Marfa's song from Khovanshchina (Mussorgsky)
Two Idylls (Shcherbachov)
Three romances (Cui, Rimsky-Korsakov, Balakirev)
Kamarinskaya (Mikhail Glinka)
Night on Bald Mountain (Mussorgsky)November 5A. Glazunov Anatoly LyadovSymphony No. 2 Scherzo in D major for orchestra, Op. 16 [possible]Fairy Tale, Op.29 (Rimsky-Korsakov) Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Alexander Zarzhitsky)
Finnish Fantasy (Alexander Dargomyzhsky)1887October 24Alexander BorodinSymphony No. 2 3 Romances
In the Steppes of Central Asia
Overture of Prince Igor
Two movements of Symphony No. 3 (unfinished)
Two Romances
Polotvsian Dances of Prince IgorOctober 31Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov C. CuiSpanish Capriccio 2 Morceaux, Op.36 [possible]Symphony No. 1 (Glazunov) Intermezzo in modo classico (Mussorgsky)
Scherzo in C major (Nikolai Artsybushev)
Russia, symphonic poem (Balakirev)
Melody for cello and orchestra (Sigismund Blumenfeld)November 7K. Antipov A. GlazunovOne piece from 3 Etudes, Op.1 [possible] Mvt. 1 of Symphony No.1 (Konstantin Antipov)
Suite caractéristique, Op.9 [possible]Spring Overture, Op. 1 (Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov) Concerto in Cm (Rimsky-Korsakov)
Scherzo in F (Cui)
Sadko, op. 5 (Rimsky-Korsakov)
Three piano solos (Shcherbachov, Lyadov)November 21F. Blumenfeld A. Glazunov
Anton Arensky
Pavel Blaramberg
M. Balakirev
N. Rimsky-KorsakovAllegro de concert, Op.7 [possible] Rêverie orientale [possible]
Scherzo of Suite in G minor, Op.7
Mvt.2 of Symphony No. 1 in B minor
Mazurka No.4 [possible]
Sinfonietta on Russian Themes, op. 31 [possible]Romeo and Juliet (Tchaikovsky) Polotvsian Dances (Borodin/Rimsky-Korsakov)
Overture No.1 on 3 Greek Themes, Op.3 (Glazunov)
Intermezzo in B (Lyadov)
No. 3 of 3 Etudes for Piano, Op.3 (F. Blumenfeld)December 5Jāzeps Vītols N. Rimsky-Korsakov
A. Glazunov Symphony in E minor [possible] Concert Fantasia on Russian Themes, Op.33
"The Forest," Symphonic Fantasy [possible]Mazurka rustique (Lyadov) Spanish Overture No. 1 (Glinka)
Mvt. 3 from String Quartet No. 2 (Borodin)
Spanish Capriccio (Rimsky-Korsakov)1888October 22N. Rimsky-KorsakovScheherazade, op. 352 excerpts from Angelo (Cui) Poem lyrique, op. 12 (Glazunov)
Concert overture in C# minor (Sergei Lyapunov)
3 Romances (Rimsky-Korsakov, Blumenfeld, Cui)
Souvenir d'une nuit d'été à Madrid (Glinka)November 19Tamara (Balakirev) Excerpt from William Radcliff (Cui)
Mazurka (Glazunov)
Scherzo for Orchestra, Op.16 (Lyadov)
Two Romances (Rimsky-Korsakov, Glazunov)
Symphony No. 1 (Borodin)December 3N. Rimsky-Korsakov S. LyapunovRussian Easter Festival Overture, op. 36 Symphony No. 1, op. 12Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23 (Tchaikovsky) To the Memory of a Hero, Op.8 (Glazunov)
Four piano pieces (Glazunov, Blumenfeld, Lyadov, Shcherbachov)
Night on Bald Mountain (Mussorgsky)December 17A. GlazunovSlavonic Festival, Op.26a 2 Pieces for Cello and Orchestra, Op.20Marche solennelle, Op.18 (Cui) Elegy (Sokolov)
Scherzo (Alexander Kopylov)
Two piano pieces (Lyadov, Balakirev)
The Tempest (Tchaikovsky)
Op. 6 (Balakirev)1889January 21F. BlumenfeldMazurka, op. 11Two movements of Symphony No. 3 (Borodin) Three orchestral pieces (Cui)
Excerpts from Boris Gudonov (Mussorgsky)
Serenade melancolique (Tchaikovsky)
Stenka Razin (Glazunov)February 4Symphony No. 2 (Glazunov) Maria's Romance from William Ratcliff (Cesar Cui)
Breton dance (Cui)
Fantasia on Serbian Themes, Op. 6 (Rimsky-Korsakov)
3 Romances (Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Balakirev)
Polotvsian Dances of Prince Igor (Borodin)June 22Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila (Glinka) In the Steppes of Central Asia (Borodin)
Mvt. 1 of Piano Concerto No. 1 (Tchaikovsky)
Symphony No. 2 (Rimsky-Korsakov)
Overture on Russian Themes (Balakirev)
4 minor works (Cui, Lyadov)
Finnish Fantasy (A. Dargomyzhsky)
Stenka Razin (Glazunov)June 29Symphony No. 2 (Glazunov) Piano Concerto in C♯ minor, Op. 30 (Rimsky-Korsakov)
Kamarinskaya (Glinka)
March and Polotvsian Dances (Borodin)
Night on Bald Mountain (Mussorgsky)
3 minor works (Balakirev, Tchaikovsky, Blumenfeld)
Scherzo for Orchestra, Op.16 (Lyadov)
Spanish Capriccio (Rimsky-Korsakov)October 28A. BorodinPetite suite [possible]Overture of Prince Kholmsky (Glinka) Yaroslav's Aria from Prince Igor (Borodin)
Symphony No. 1 (Glazunov)
Two Romances (Cui, Rimsky-Korsakov)
Spanish Capriccio (Rimsky-Korsakov)November 11J. Vītols"Ligo Celebration" on Latvian folk themesTamara (Balakirev) Recit and Vladimir's Cavatina from Prince Igor (Borodin)
3 Romances (Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky)
Symphony No. 2 (Borodin)1890January 20Cesar Cui A. Glazunov3 excerpts from Le Filibustier Oriental Rhapsody Aria from Kroatka (Dütsch) Shcherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov)
2 Romances (Tchaikovsky, Cui)
March (Mussorgsky)February 18In Arganteau piano suite (Cui) Elegy for Cello (Glazunov)
Dodola's Dances and Sunny Villas (Achilles Alferaki)
Fantasy for Orchestra in E Major, Op. 28 (Glazunov)
Two minor pieces (Arensky, Tchaikovsky)
Excerpts from Mlada (Rimsky-Korsakov)November 3Russia, symphonic poem (Balakirev) Romances (Mussorgsky)
Symphony in E minor (Vitols)
"The Forest," Symphonic Fantasy (Glazunov)
Romances (Borodin)
Kamarinskaya (Glinka)November 17Aleksey Petrov C. CuiAllegro Symphonique in Bm [possible] Suite No.3, Op.432 Romances (Glazunov) Symphony No. 3 (Rimsky-Korsakov)
Romances (Cui)
Idylle Religieuse (Glazunov)
Dance of the Peaches from Khovanshchina (Mussorgsky)December 3C. CuiThe Two Ghosts ballad Two movements of unfinished Symphony No. 3 (Borodin) Symphony No. 3 in D (Glazunov)
Two Romances (Mussorgsky)
Chukhon Fantasia (Dargomyzhsky)December 22Symphony No. 1 Piano Concerto in C#m
Sadko
Antar
Easter Festival Overture, op. 361891January 26F. BlumenfeldSymphony in Em [possible]Sinfonietta on Russian Themes, Op.31 (Rimsky-Korsakov) Romances (Rimsky-Korsakov)
Scherzo in C major (Artsybushev)
Overture No. 1 on Greek Themes (Glazunov)February 2Mirage, symphonic poem (Nikolai Klenovsky) Concert Allegro for piano and orchestra (Blumenfeld)
Middle East, symphonic poem (Borodin)
Two works (Sokolov)
Three piano solos (Lyadov, Balakirev, Scherbachev)
Slavonic Feast, symphonic poem (Glazunov)February 16N. Rimsky-Korsakov3rd Act of MladaThe Kremlin, Op. 30 symphonic poem (Glazunov) Romances (Balakirev)
Introduction and Polonaise from Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky)November 30M. MussorgskyPictures at an Exhibition (Tushmalov's version)Symphony No. 2 (Borodin) 3 parts of Concert Suites for Violin (Cui)
Stenka Razin (Glazunov)
Concert Fantasia on Russian Themes (Rimsky-Korsakov)1892January 25N. Sokolov
A. Glazunov
A. LyadovFinal Chorus from Don Juan, Op. 5 Two works for female choir
Spring, symphonic poem, Op. 34
Final Scene of The Messinian BrideFairy Tale, Op.29 (Rimsky-Korsakov) The Destruction of Sennacherib (Mussorgsky)
Mazurka for Orchestra (Blumenfeld)December 12Symphony No. 3 in D (Glazunov) Three Romances (Rimsky-Korsakov, Cui, Tchaikovsky)
Overture of May Night (Rimsky-Korsakov)
Overture on Spanish March (Balakirev)
Romances and Arragon Hunting (Glinka)1893January 16A. GlazunovTriumphal March, Op. 40Suite No. 2 for Orchestra (Cui) Scene from Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky)
Sadko/Overture of The Maid of Pskov (Rimsky-Korsakov)