- Albrecht, Karl
- a native of Breslau, for twelve years conductor at the Imperial opera in St. Petersburg. His son Constantine (1836-93) was a cellist and choirmaster who became inspector of Moscow Conservatoire and Nicholas Rubinstein's 'right hand'. He married in 1862 the daughter of an eminent professor of the piano, Langer.
- Artot, , Marguerite Josephine Desiree Montagney 1835-1907
- Belgian operatic mezzo-soprano singer, daughter of a professor of the horn at the Brussels Conservatoire, but born in Paris. Pupil of Pauline Viardot-Garcia. First sang at concerts in Belgium, Holland and England, but joined the Paris Opera in 1858. Later appeared in Italy, Germany and Russia. Married Padilla in 1869.
- Auber, Daniel Francois Esprit 1782-1871
- French composer, mainly of operas, including La Muettee de Portici, Fra Diavolo and Le Domino Noir.
- Auer, Leopold 1845-1930
- Hungarian violist settled in Russia until the Revolution, when he went to U.S.A. Pupil of Dont in Vienna and Joachim at Hanover, professor of the St. Petersburg Conservatoire from 1868. Teacher of many eminent violists.
- Balakirev, Mily Alexeyevich 1837-1910
- Russian nationalist composer, named by Glinka as his 'successor'. Self-taught, but a great inspirer of others. The most important member of his circle were Borodin, Cui, Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. Collectively they were known variously as 'the Balakirev circle', 'the Petersburg group', 'the new Russian school', and later as 'the mighty handful' (moguhaya kuchka), and in western Europe (but not in Russia) as 'the five'. Amongst his best works are a Symphony in C major; a piano concerto; a piano sonata; the Symphonic Poems Tamara and In Bohemia; and Incidental Music to Shakespeare's King Lear.
- Belyaev, Mitrofan Petrovich 1836-1907
- Russian timber merchant and keen musical amateur who sponsored symphony concerts and founded a publishing firm for the propagation of Russian music in 1885.
- Bessel, Vassily Vassiliyevich 1843-1907
- Russian music publisher, fellow-student of Tchaikovsky in St Petersburg, where he founded a publishing firm in 1869.
- Boito, Arrigo 1842-1907
- Italian poet, critic and composer, author of numerous libretti of Italian operas, including Verdi's Othello and Falstaff. Composer of the operas Mefistofele and Nerone.
- Borodin, Alexander Porfirevich1833-87
- professor of chemistry and Russian nationalist composer, much influenced by Balakirev and one of the 'mighty handful'. Among his chief works are the opera Prince Igor, three symphonies (one unfinished) and a dozen masterly songs.
- Brandukov, Anatol Andreyvich 1859-1930
- celebrated cellist. Studied at the Moscow Conservatoire. Traveled much as a virtuoso.
- Brodsky, Adolf 1851-1929
- Russian Violinist, pupil of Hellmensberger in Vienna; successively conductor at Kiev, professor at the Leipzig Conservatoire, leader of the Halle Orchestra in Manchester and Principle of the Royal Manchester College of Music.
- Bruch, Max 1838-1920
- German composer, professor of composition in Berlin, 1892-1910
- Bulow, Hans von (1830-94)
- German pianist and conductor. His wife, Liszt's daughter Cosima, left him for Wagner.
- Cui, Cesar Antonovich 1835-1918
- Russian Composer, critic and authority on fortifications, of French descent and born in Poland. Studying military engineering in St Petersburg, he became intimate with Balakirev and was numbered among 'the mighty handful' chiefly because he supported its ideals by his writing, though his composition in the early days were thought highly of by Balakirev.
- Dargomyzhsky, Alexander Sergeyvich 1813-69
- Russain composer who believed in 'truth' and 'realism in music. He had no professional training, and some of his harmonic quirks which he would hardly have employed had he known the current harmonic 'rules' influenced later Russian composer, particularly Mussorgsky. Besides his operas Russalka and the Stone Guest, his most important composition are the Ukrainian 'Kazachok' for orchestra and some remarkable songs.
- Fitzenhagen, W.K.F. 1848-90
- German cellist, professor at the Moscow Conservatoire and a director of the Moscow branch of the Russian Musical Society.
- Glazunov, Alexander Constantinovich 1865-1936
- Russian composer, pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov. His early musical nationalism gave way to eclectic tendencies; his large output includes eight symphonies.
- Glinka, Michael Ivanovich 1803-57
- Russian composer, often called the 'father' of Russian music. His only professional music studies were with Dehn at Berlin in 1833. Most 19th century Russian composer acknowledged their debt to him, and in the 20th century Stravinsky among others has done the same. Two of the most important facet of his influence are the nationalist tendencies in this two operas, A Life for the Tsar (1836) and Russlan and Ludmilla (1842), especially the latter, and the clear transparency of his instrumentation.
- Hanslick, Eduard (1825-1904)
- music critic in Vienna, lecturer on musical history.
- Hubert, Nicholas Albertovich (1840-88)
- son of a piano teacher and fellow-student with Tchaikovsky at the St. Petersburg Conservatoire, became professor of theory at the Moscow Conservatoire and succeeded Nicholas Rubinstein as the Director of that institute.
- Jurgenson, Peter Ivanovich 1840-1903
- started a publishing house in Moscow in 1861 with the help of Nicholas Rubinstein, whom he assisted in the foundation of Moscow Conservatoire. Besides publishing Russian editions of standard classics, he issued much music by contemporary Russian Composers, including most of Tchaikovsky's.
- Kashkin, Nicholas Dmitriyevich 1839-1920
- Russian music critic and professor at the Moscow Conservatoire from its foundation in 1864 to 1896. Author of reminiscences of Tchaikovsky
- Klindworth, Karl 1830-1916
- German pianist and conductor, pupil of Liszt and arranger of vocal scores of Wagner's work. He had a school of music of his own in Berlin.
- Kotek, Joseph Josephovich 1855-84
- originally a pupil of Laub and Tchaikovsky, became resident violinist in Nadezhda von Meck's household. Together with Nicholas Rubinstein he introduced his employer to Tchaikovsky's music. He was nicknamed 'Kotik' ('Tom-cat') by Tchaikovsky , and was responsible for his high spirits early in 1878 which led to the composition of the Violin Concerto, for which he gave valuable technical advice. Tchaikovsky visited him as he lay dying of tuberculosis in Switzerland in 1844 [Kotek was only 29 at the time and was very dear to the composer].
- Laroche, Herman Augustovich 1845-1904
- Russian music critic, fellow-student of Tchaikovsky at the St Petersburg Conservatoire, professor at the Moscow Conservatoire from 1867. Returned to St Petersburg in 1871. Critic on many leading Russian newspapers.
- Laub, Ferdinand (1832-75)
- Czech violinist, studied at the Prague Conservatoire, and in Vienna from 1847. Traveled much and succeeded Joachim as leader of the court orchestra at Weimar in 1853. He became principal violin professor at the Moscow Conservatoire in 1866.
- Litolff, Henri Charles 1818-91
- pianist, music publisher and composer of Alsatian descent. His overtures and works for piano and orchestra, now forgotten, were once popular, and his music was admired by both Balakirev and Tchaikovsky.
- Meyerbeer, Giacomo 1791-1864
- German-Jewish composer whose real name was Jacob Liebmann Beer. The huge success of his deliberately popular French opera, particularly Robert le diable, Les Huguenots and Le Prophete, caused him to be reviled, envied and imitated in about equal proportions by other composers. His music was much more influential than is generally realized, but it is this aspect of it which is most interesting today and no revival of a Meyerbeer opera is liable to have much success, though certain individual members reveal his inherent musicianship and sense of tone colour.
- Mussorgsky, Modest Petrovich 1839-81
- Russian nationalist composer, pupil of Balakirev and one of the 'mighty handful'. Also influenced by Dargomyzhsky and to a certain extent by Meyerbeer. His finest works include the opera Boris Godunov, the original score of which is startlingly innovatory and reveals more deeply than any other work of the true nature of the Russian national consciousness as displayed in the folk-idiom; the Pictures form an Exhibition for the piano; and some strikingly original songs. With the possible exception of Borodin, none of the other members of Balakirev's circle really understood the importance of these compositions. Tchaikovsky was similarly skeptical
- Napravnik, Eduard 1839-1915
- born in Bohemia, studied at the organ school in Prague. Went to Russia in 1861 and became conductor of the St Petersburg opera, and of the Russian Music Society soon after Balakirev's resignation. He wrote four operas and numerous miscellaneous works.
- Ostrovsky, Alexander Nicholayevich 1823-86
- Russian dramatist, first practiced as a lawyer and later became famous as author of many historical and sociological dramas.
- Padilla y Ramos, Mariano 1824-1906
- Spanish baritone singer, studied in Italy and toured Europe extensively. Married Desiree Artot in 1869
- Petita, Marius 1819-1910
- dancer and choreographer, born at Marseilles, made his debut at Rachel's benefit with Carlotta Gristi at the Comedie-Francaise. Went to St Petersburg in 1847 and became ballet-master at the Maryinsky Theater.
- Rimsky-Korsakov, Nicholas Andreyevich 1844-1908
- Russian composer who began his career in the navy , but took to music after meeting Balakirev, whose circle he joined. Became professor of composition at St Petersburg Conservatoire in 1871. Like the other member of 'the mighty handful' his music grew steadily away from its earlier resemblance to Balakirev's. The transparency of his orchestration derives from Glinka and the cool calm detached nature of his late music, together with its dry humour, influenced Stravinsky, who was his pupil. He wrote many operas of which the best known is The Golden Cockerel, and a number of brilliant orchestral works, as well as numerous miscellaneous compositions including some beautiful songs.
- Rubinstein, Anton Grigorevich 1830-94
- Russian pianist and composer, made public appearances from his ninth year and became one of the greatest pianists of his day. As a composer, though immensely prolific, he is now almost entirely forgotten. The Ocean Symphony and the opera The Demon were amongst his most successful works, and in spite of his initial eclecticism, he displayed nationalist tendencies in certain later works, particularly the symphony in G minor. He founded St. Petersburg Conservatoire in 1862
- Rubinstein, Nicholas 1835-81
- Russian pianist and conductor, brother of the preceding. Studied in Berlin, founded the Russian Musical society at Moscow in 1859, and the Conservatoire there years later.
- Serov, Alexander Nicholayevich 1820-71
- Russian composer and critic; studied law, but found time to cultivate music, which eventually, after a career as civil servant, he succeeded in taking pup professionally. He greatly admired Wagner and propagated his music in Russia. His own operas Judith and Rogneda were enormously successful.
- Siloti, Alexander 1863-1945 otherwise 'Ziloti'
- Russian pianist, student at the Moscow Conservatoire, 1875-81, and pupil of Liszt thereafter until the latter' death. Made extensive tours and became professor at the Moscow Conservatoire in 1890
- Smyth, Ethel Mary 1858-1944
- English composer and author, studied at Leipzig where she produced several works. Her composition include operas the Wreckers and The Boatswain's Mate, a cantata The Prison, etc.
- Stassov, Vladimir Vassiliyevich 1824-1906
- Russian critic and author, and champion of the nationalist school represented by 'the mighty handful', a term he himself coined in 1867. He had many ideas which he passed on to Balakirev, Mussorgsky, Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky about opera libretti, descriptive Symphonic works or the use of folk-tunes. Balakirev's programme for Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony originated with Stassov, as did the programme for the symphonic Fanatasia, The Tempest. After hearing Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture he remarked to Balakirev that 'the mighty handful' used to be number five, but now it was six.
- Taneyev, Sergei Ivanovich 1856-1915
- Russian pianist and composer, student of Tchaikovsky at the Moscow Conservatoire, and succeeded his master there in 1878. His most important works, foe a certain academic solidity, are orchestral and chamber music.
- Viardot-Garcia, Pauline Michelle 1821-1910
- Franco-Spanish soprano singer
- Zaremba, Nicholas Ivanovich 1821-79
- professor of theory at St Petersburg Conservatoire from its foundation in 1862. Believed in education efficacy of Strict Counterpoint. Succeeded Anton Rubinstein as Director of the Conservatoire from 1867-1871. Is lampooned in Mussorgsky's song the Peepshow.
- Zvantsev, Constantine Ivanovich 1823-90
- music critic, eminent translator, librettist, contributor to the journal Art. Together with D. Lobanov and A Maikov wrote the Russian version of the libretto Judith by Serov.
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