Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka is a composer whose compositions have had a strong influence on the formation of the next generations of musicians. The ideas of his works were developed in his work by A. S. Dargomyzhsky, members of The Mighty Handful, P. I. Tchaikovsky.
Mikhail Glinka. Short biography: childhood
Mikhail was born in June 1804 in the distant village of Novospassky, which belonged to his parents and was 100 miles from Smolensk, and 20 from the small town of Yelny. They began to systematically train the boy both in music and in general disciplines rather late. The governess V.F. Klamer, invited from Petersburg, was engaged in the first with him.
M.I. Glinka. Short biography: the first experiments in the composition
In 1822, just after completing his studies at the boarding school, Mikhail wrote several variations for harp and piano on the theme of one of the fashion operas of that time. They became Glinka's first experience in composing music. From that moment he continued to improve and soon wrote a lot in a wide variety of genres. Dissatisfaction with his work, despite recognition, leads him to search for new forms, to get acquainted with creative people. In composing music, he could not interfere with social parties, or poor health. This became his deep inner need.
M.I. Glinka. Short biography: travel abroad
Several reasons prompted him to think about going abroad. This is, firstly, the opportunity to gain new impressions, knowledge, experience. He also hoped that the new climate would help him improve his health. In 1830 he went to Italy, but on the way stopped in Germany and spent the summer there. Then Glinka settled in Milan. In the years 1830-1831, the composer composed a lot, new works appeared. In 1833, Glinka went to Berlin. Along the way, he briefly lingered in Vienna. In Berlin, the composer intended to put his theoretical knowledge in music in order. He studied under the guidance of Z. Den.
M.I. Glinka. Short biography: homecoming
Glinka was forced to interrupt classes in Berlin by the news of the death of his father. When Mikhail Ivanovich arrived in St. Petersburg, he often began to visit Zhukovsky. Every week, the poet gathered writers and musicians. At one of the meetings, Glinka shared with Zhukovsky his desire to write for the first time a Russian opera. He approved the composer's intention and suggested taking the plot of Ivan Susanin. In 1835, Glinka married M.P. Ivanova.
Happiness not only did not become an obstacle to creativity, but, on the contrary, spurred the composer's activity. The opera Ivan Susanin (Life for the Tsar) he wrote quite quickly. In the autumn of 1836 its premiere was already held. She was a huge success with the public and even with the emperor.
M.I. Glinka. Short biography: new works
Even during the life of Pushkin, the composer had the idea to write an opera, taking as the basis the plot of his poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila”. She was ready in 1842. The production soon took place, but the opera was less successful than Life for the Tsar. It was not easy for the composer to survive the criticism. Two years later he went on a trip to France and Spain. New impressions returned the composer's creative inspiration. In 1845, he created the overture of the Aragonese Hota, which was a great success. Three years later, "Night in Madrid" appeared.
On a foreign land, the composer increasingly turned to Russian songs. On their basis, he wrote Kamarinskaya, which laid the foundations for the development of a new type of symphonic music .
Mikhail Glinka. Biography: recent years
Mikhail Ivanovich lived abroad (Warsaw, Berlin, Paris), then in St. Petersburg. The composer's creative plans were still full. But hostility and persecution prevented him, and several score had to be burned. Until the last days, L.I. Shestakova, his younger sister, remained next to him. Glinka died in Berlin in February 1857. The composer's ashes were transported and buried in St. Petersburg.