August 10, 1865:
Alyeksandr Konstantinovich Glazunov is born in St. Petersburg, in the Russian Empire, the son of Konstantin Ilyich Glazunov, a book publisher and amateur violinist, and Yelena Pavlovna Gromova, a pianist.
January 4, 1880:
Alyeksandr Glazunov (14) begins his studies with Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (35).
November 13, 1882:
String Quartet no.1 by Alyeksandr Glazunov (17) is performed for the first time, in St. Petersburg.
January 22, 1883:
Overture on Greek Themes op.3 for orchestra by Alyeksandr Glazunov (17) is performed for the first time, in St. Petersburg, conducted by Anton Rubinstein (53).
March 27, 1884:
The Characteristic Suite op.9 for orchestra by Alyeksandr Glazunov (18) is performed for the first time, in the Great Hall of the Peter-Paul School, St. Petersburg, conducted by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (40).
May 26, 1884:
Alyeksandr Glazunov (18) is in Weimar where Franz Liszt (72) has decided that his Symphony no.1 will be performed by the General German Music Union. The rehearsal this afternoon does not go well, although Liszt applauds every movement. The performance is much more successful. Liszt is very helpful to the young composer, offering suggestions to improve the work.
November 9, 1884:
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (44) meets Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (40), Alyeksandr Glazunov (19), and Anatoly Lyadov at the home of Mily Balakirev (47) in St. Petersburg.
November 5, 1886:
Symphony no.2 by Alyeksandr Glazunov (21) is performed for the first time, in St. Petersburg. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (44) is in the audience and is greatly impressed by the music of his young friend.
December 5, 1886:
Today is the name day of Mitrofan Petrovich Belyayev for which a string quartet has been composed with the four movements by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (42), Alyeksandr Borodin (53), Anatol Konstantinovich Lyadov and Alyeksandr Glazunov (21) respectively. Each movement is based on the theme B flat-A-F.
October 22, 1888:
Alyeksandr Glazunov (23) makes his conducting debut in St. Petersburg.
June 22, 1889:
Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (45) and Alyeksandr Glazunov (23) conduct the Colonne Orchestra in the first of two concerts dedicated to Russian music at the Trocadéro during the Paris Exhibition. Among those attending is Claude Debussy (26)
June 29, 1889:
Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (45) and Alyeksandr Glazunov (23) conduct at the second of two concerts devoted to Russian music at the Trocadéro. These performances are a critical success but attendance is poor.
January 20, 1890:
Rhapsodie orientale op.29 by Alyeksandr Glazunov (24) is performed for the first time, in St. Petersburg conducted by the composer. It is not well received.
November 4, 1890:
Prince Igor, an opera by Alyeksandr Borodin (†3) to his own words, completed by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (46) and Alyeksandr Glazunov (25), is performed for the first time, in the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg.
December 8, 1890:
Symphony no.3 by Alyeksandr Glazunov (25) is performed for the first time, in St. Petersburg. The work was created over the span of seven years.
February 16, 1891:
Kremlin op.30 for orchestra by Alyeksandr Glazunov (25) is performed for the first time, in St. Petersburg conducted by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (46).
June 15, 1891:
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (51) writes to the publisher PI Jurgenson to order a new instrument, a celesta, which he heard in Paris, “before Rimsky-Korsakov (47) and Glazunov (25) get wind of it.”
November 2, 1893:
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (53) sets out from his brother's home in St. Petersburg to visit Eduard Napravnik. He suffers an acute stomach attack in the cab and immediately returns. Through the day his condition grows worse. At about 17:00 he is visited by Alyeksandr Glazunov (28). In the evening he is seen by Dr. Lev Bertenson who diagnoses cholera, now present in the city.
December 18, 1893:
Carnaval Overture op.40 and Concert Waltz no.1 op.47, both for orchestra by Ayeksandr Glazunov (28), are performed for the first time, in the Hall of the Nobility, St. Petersburg, conducted by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (49).
January 22, 1894:
Symphony no.4 by Alyeksandr Glazunov (28) is performed for the first time, in the Hall of the Nobility, St. Petersburg, conducted by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (49).
July 13, 1894:
Concert Waltz no.2 op.51 for orchestra by Alyeksandr Glazunov (28) is performed for the first time, at the Pavlovsky Station, St. Petersburg.
December 17, 1894:
Alyeksandr Glazunov (29) conducts the premiere of his Scènes de Ballet op.52 for orchestra in the Hall of the Nobility, St. Petersburg.
February 4, 1895:
From Darkness into Light op.53 for orchestra by Alyeksandr Glazunov (29) is performed for the first time, in St. Petersburg conducted by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (50). The work is dedicated to Ferruccio Busoni (28).
February 17, 1896:
Symphony no.5 by Alyeksandr Glazunov (30) is performed for the first time, in the Hall of the Nobility, St. Petersburg.
February 8, 1897:
Alyeksandr Glazunov (31) conducts the premiere of his Symphony no.6 in the Hall of the Nobility, St. Petersburg.
March 27, 1897:
Symphony no.1 by Sergey Rakhmaninov (23) is performed for the first time, in the Hall of the Nobility, St. Petersburg, conducted by Alyeksandr Glazunov (31). The work is a disaster, partly due to the performance, partly due to the music. Rakhmaninov can not force himself to enter the auditorium, hiding on the stairs to the balcony and pressing his fists to his ears, finally running out into the street. He will later blame the conductor. “…all my hopes, all belief in myself, had been destroyed; abject misery had taken the place of my former arrogance.” (Scott, 48)
January 19, 1898:
Raymonda, a ballet by Alyeksandr Glazunov (32), is performed for the first time, in the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg.
April 8, 1898:
At a musical evening in the home of Mily Balakirev (61), the host and Sergey Mikhailovich Lyapunov play through a two-piano version of his “new” symphony to several invited guests, including Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (54), Vladimir Stassov, and Alyeksandr Glazunov (32). At the conclusion there is silence. Only with difficulty do the guests find anything positive to say, and Rimsky never does. See 23 April 1898.
February 21, 1900:
The Seasons, a ballet by Alyeksandr Glazunov (34), is performed for the first time, at the Hermitage Theatre, St. Petersburg.
January 3, 1903:
The Symphony no.7 and the tone poem From the Middle Ages by Alyeksandr Glazunov (37) are performed for the first time, in St. Petersburg, conducted by the composer.
September 22, 1904:
Sergey Prokofiev (13) undergoes the entrance examination to the St. Petersburg Conservatory. His examiners include Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (60) and Alyeksandr Glazunov (39). He is accepted.
March 4, 1905:
The Violin Concerto in A by Alyeksandr Glazunov (39) is performed for the first time, in St. Petersburg, the composer conducting.
April 4, 1905:
Alyeksandr Glazunov (39) resigns his position as professor at St. Petersburg Conservatory to protest the dismissal of Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (61).
April 9, 1905:
After Alyeksandr Glazunov (39) conducts a student performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s (61) Kashchey, a political demonstration in favor of Rimsky-Korsakov breaks out. Thereafter, the police temporarily forbid the performance of his music.
December 14, 1905:
Alyeksandr Glazunov (40) returns to St. Petersburg Conservatory after most of the demands of the professors are met.
December 18, 1905:
Alyeksandr Glazunov (40) is elected to direct the St. Petersburg Conservatory. This comes as a result of the government’s concession to grant conservatories limited autonomy, including election of their directors. Glazunov’s first action is to ask Rimsky-Korsakov (61) back to the faculty.
February 8, 1906:
At a meeting of the council of St. Petersburg Conservatory, Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (61) storms out because of their negativity towards the students and director Alyeksandr Glazunov (40).
March 11, 1906:
The Russian Fantasy for balalaika ensemble by Alyeksandr Glazunov (40) is performed for the first time, in St. Petersburg.
December 22, 1906:
Alyeksandr Glazunov (41) conducts the premiere of his Symphony no.8 in St. Petersburg.
March 17, 1907:
Prelude and Fugue op.93 for organ by Alyeksandr Glazunov (41) is performed for the first time, at St. Petersburg Conservatory.
May 16, 1907:
Tonight marks the first of five “historic concerts” of Russian music in Paris by Sergey Dyaghilev featuring appearances by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (63), Alyeksandr Glazunov (41), and Sergey Rakhmaninov (34) performing their own music.
May 29, 1907:
A banquet is given by Jules Ecorcheville in Paris marking the end of the five “historic concerts” of Russian music. Present in the same room are Nikolai Rimsky-Korasakov (63), Gabriel Fauré (62), Vincent d’Indy (56), Alyeksandr Glazunov (41), Albert Roussel (38), Florent Schmitt (36), Maurice Ravel (32), Fyodor Chaliapin, and Sergey Diaghilev.
June 12, 1907:
Alyeksandr Glazunov (41) is awarded an honorary DMus by the University of Cambridge.
June 18, 1907:
Alyeksandr Glazunov (41) is awarded an honorary DMus by the University of Oxford.
March 8, 1908:
The overture Song of Destiny op.84 by Alyeksandr Glazunov (42) is performed for the first time, in the Great Hall of St. Petersburg Conservatory.
December 20, 1908:
Introduction and Dance of Salomé op.90 by Alyeksandr Glazunov (43) is performed for the first time, for a production of Oscar Wilde’s Salome in the Great Hall of St. Petersburg Conservatory.
March 26, 1910:
Finnish Fantasy op.88 for orchestra by Alyeksandr Glazunov (44) is performed for the first time, in St. Petersburg.
February 14, 1912:
Piano Concerto no.1 by Alyeksandr Glazunov (46) is performed for the first time, in the Hall of the Nobility, St. Petersburg.
December 16, 1912:
Prelude Cantata by Alyeksandr Glazunov (47) celebrating the 50th anniversary of St. Petersburg Conservatory, is performed for the first time, by faculty and students at the Conservatory.
January 9, 1914:
Incidental music to (Grand Duke Konstantin) Romanov’s play The King of the Jews by Alyeksandr Glazunov (48) is performed for the first time, in the Hermitage, St. Petersburg.
March 15, 1915:
Paraphrases of the National Anthems of the Allied Nations, by Alyeksandr Glazunov (49) is performed for the first time, at one of the “patriotic concerts” at Petrograd Conservatory, directed by the composer.
January 29, 1916:
A suite from Sergey Prokofiev’s (24) unperformed ballet Ala i Lolli, called the Scythian Suite op.20, is performed for the first time, in Petrograd, the composer conducting. One audience member, Alyeksandr Glazunov (50), finds the music so distasteful that he storms out of the hall. The composer remarks, “The price of rotten eggs has gone up in St. Petersburg.”
November 11, 1917:
Piano Concerto no.2 by Alyeksandr Glazunov (52) is performed for the first time, at Petrograd Conservatory, the composer conducting.
March 9, 1918:
By a directive of Commissar of Public Education Anatoly Lunacharsky, Alyeksandr Glazunov (52) is saved from having his apartment confiscated by the government.
September 6, 1922:
On the 40th anniversary of his career as a composer, Alyeksandr Glazunov (57) is named People’s Artist of the Republic.
December 19, 1922:
Urged on by Lenin to encourage electrification and modernization, Lev Sergeyevich Termen (Leon Theremin) (26) begins a tour with his Etherphone with a one-man show in the Grand Hall of the Petrograd Philharmonic Society. There is a light show and various other new instruments. Among the audience are Alyeksandr Glazunov (57) and Dmitri Shostakovich (16).
May 6, 1925:
Symphony no.1 by Dmitri Shostakovich (18) is performed for the first time, in a two-piano version, by the composer and a friend before the Leningrad Conservatory composition faculty and students as a final examination for the composition course. Alyeksandr Glazunov (59) is not fond of two movements, but generally the work is well received. See 7 February 1926 and 12 May 1926.
June 15, 1928:
Alyeksandr Glazunov (62) leaves Leningrad for Vienna as a delegate to the Schubert centennial. He will shortly take up residence in Boulogne-sur-Seine, near Paris, and never return to his native land.
December 3, 1929:
On his first visit to the United States, Alyeksandr Glazunov (64) conducts his own works at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York.
December 14, 1929:
After a performance of Rhapsody in Blue by the New York Philharmonic, the composer at the piano, Alyeksandr Glazunov (64) goes backstage and is introduced to Gershwin (31). Gershwin expresses the desire to travel to Russia and study orchestration with Glazunov. The Russian declines.
October 14, 1933:
Concerto Ballata for cello and orchestra by Alyeksandr Glazunov (68) is performed for the first time, in Paris the composer conducting.
December 10, 1933:
Saxophone Quartet op.109 by Alyeksandr Glazunov (68) is performed for the first time, at the Russian Conservatory, Paris.
November 26, 1934:
Saxophone Concerto by Alyeksandr Glazunov (69) is performed for the first time, in Nyköping, Sweden.
March 21, 1936:
Alyeksandr Konstantinovich Glazunov dies in Paris, Republic of France, of uremic poisoning, aged 70 years, seven months, and eleven days. His mortal remains will be buried in the Cimetière de Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris. See 13 November 1972.
October 14, 1972:
The earthly remains of Alyeksandr Glazunov (†36) are transported from Paris to reinterrment in Leningrad.
November 13, 1972:
After a flight from Paris and a concert of his music in Leningrad, the mortal remains of Alyeksandr Konstantinovich Glazunov (†36) are interred in the Alyeksandr Nevsky Cemetery.