Monuments to Glinka in Smolensk and St. Petersburg: description. Russian composer Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:44

Monuments to Glinka, the great composer who influenced the emergence of Russian classical music with his work, are installed in several cities of the country. They were erected at different times as a token of gratitude from people for the works created by the genius of the composer and musician.

There are such monuments in Dubna, Chelyabinsk, St. Petersburg and, of course, in Smolensk. In Veliky Novgorod, on the monument "1000th Anniversary of Russia", among the 129 most prominent personalities of Russia who left their mark on the history of the Russian state, there is the figure of Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka.

Years spent in Smolensk

It is not surprising that the monument to Glinka in Smolensk was the first in Russia. After all, it was in the Smolensk province in 1804 that the future composer and musician was born. Here he received his primary education. Until the age of 13, the boy lived with his grandmother, and then with his mother on an estate near Smolensk.

From the age of 10, Mikhail began to learn to play musical instruments: violin and piano. His first music teacher was the governess W. F. Klammer. In 1817 the family moved toPetersburg, where he continued his studies in both basic subjects and music.

Monument to the great countryman

A magnificent monument by sculptor A. R. von Bock and architect I. S. Bogomolov was erected in 1885 in Smolensk. Funds for its creation and installation were collected for two years from voluntary donations, for which a subscription was organized. The initiative was taken by such artists as A. G. Rubinshtein, V. V. Stasov, G. A. Larosh. Many Russian composers came to the opening, who deeply revered Glinka for his creations and called themselves his students.

May 20, 1885, on the birthday of Mikhail Ivanovich, with a large crowd of people, the monument was solemnly opened. Since then, for several centuries, he did not leave his place. Today it is one of the main attractions of Smolensk. It is located in the Glinka Park, although the locals prefer a different name: Blonie Park. Opposite the monument is the building of the Philharmonic.

Description of the monument to Glinka

The figure of the composer is placed on a high pedestal of gray granite. There are two inscriptions on the side faces of the stone. One - the year of opening of the monument to the composer on behalf of the whole of Russia, and the other - the dates of birth, death and burial.

The figure of Mikhail Glinka is made of dark bronze, its height is 2.5 meters. The composer turned his face to the audience and to the Philharmonic building, behind him - the conductor's stand. He is calm and focused. A littletilting his head to one side, the maestro listens to the music that sounds only for him.

Artistic fence of the monument

Amazingly beautiful and original fence was installed two years later. The project of this work of art was created by the architect I. S. Bogomolov, and the artistic casting was carried out by master K. Winkler.

The fence is a closed musical staff, on which bronze notes are located, forming well-known musical fragments of the composer's works. Experts say that here you can read 24 musical phrases from Glinka's works: "Ivan Susanin", "Ruslan and Lyudmila", "Prince Kholmsky", "Farewell Song".

Twice a day, Glinka's music is heard from the speakers in Blonye Park, the townspeople stop for a few minutes to listen to the beautiful music of their fellow countryman again.

For several decades, since 1958, the Glinka Decades festival has been held in the composer's homeland. It opens according to tradition at the monument to the great composer.

Monument to Glinka in St. Petersburg

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the composer, the issue of installing a monument in the city where Mikhail Ivanovich lived for many years was raised. He never truly parted from St. Petersburg, always returning to the city on the Neva. His friends and students were here.

At the initiative of the Imperial Russian Musical Society, a commission for the construction of the monument was organized and a subscription for voluntary donations was opened. Funds were collected in all cities,all segments of the population. For this purpose, charity concerts and performances were held, the money from which was sent to the established fund. 106,788 rubles 14 kopecks were collected, and after that a competition was announced for the best design of the Glinka monument.

The commission approved the work of the sculptor R. R. Bach, the architect was his brother, A. R. Bach. In 1903, the monument was made and installed on Theater Square.

Description of the monument in St. Petersburg

The figure of the composer, 3.5 meters high, is set on a red granite pedestal. The total height of the monument is 7.5 meters. The composer, made of bronze, stands in a free, relaxed pose in an unbuttoned coat. The facade of the pedestal with the dates of Glinka's life and death is decorated with a large laurel branch, made by R. R. Bach. The names of the composer's works are written on the side faces of the pedestal. The monument was decorated with cast candelabra.

Movement of the monument

The monument to Glinka, installed in the center of the square, immediately caused problems. It became a hindrance to the passage of carriages, and later horse-drawn carriages. When in 1925 they began to reconstruct the square, redevelop it and lay new tram tracks, the monument was dismantled.

In 1926, a commission was established to select the site of the monument, organize work and monitor the progress of installation. This place was the same Theater Square, the territory of the square, closer to the building of the conservatory.

It was also decided to make some changes to the appearance of the monument. have been removed from the composition.candelabra, as details that do not match the style of the monument. The site on which the pedestal was installed was fenced with granite porticos.

In 1944, the bronze figure of the composer and the laurel branch were being restored. The monument to Glinka is a sign of the love of the Russian people for the works of the maestro, which have become classics.

Mikhail Ivanovich wrote many romances, vocal works, symphony concerts. His operas are still on theater stages today. A great creator of national music, he addressed the works to the people of his country, creating compositions unprecedented before him. Many musicians who followed in his footsteps called themselves his students.

The critic V. V. Stasov believed that Glinka is as great and significant in Russian music as A. S. Pushkin is in the Russian word.