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Work and Residence of Rimsky-Korsakov in the Court Singing Chapel

Bolshaya Konyushennaya St., 11, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191186

In 1883, Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev was appointed director of the Court Singing Chapel, and his assistant was confirmed as Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov. The latter taught the orchestral class at the music school and managed it so well that gradually the school's graduates became the leading musicians of the orchestra. The joint work of Balakirev and Rimsky-Korsakov over 10 years was an entire era in the development of performance, educational, and training activities in the Chapel.
Great Composers: Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov
photo
Jermaine

In 1883, Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev was appointed manager of the Court Singing Chapel, and Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov was confirmed as his assistant. The latter taught the orchestral class at the music school and organized it so well that gradually the school's graduates became leading musicians of the orchestra. The joint work of Balakirev and Rimsky-Korsakov over 10 years was an entire era in the development of performance, educational, and nurturing work in the Chapel.

From 1887 to 1889, the entire complex of the chapel buildings underwent reconstruction. Architects Sultanov, Shreter, and Benois submitted their projects for this work. The project by the latter was accepted, which preserved the U-shaped facade of the main building. According to Benois's design, a fence was installed in front of the main entrance, a royal pavilion was added to the concert hall, and the facade finishes were changed. Their artistic decoration was done by plasterer Dylev and locksmith master Weber. In the central part of the facade, commemorative plaques with the names of musicians associated with the chapel were placed. An organ from the Dutch Church was installed in the concert hall. The inner territory of the site was built up with residential houses. The architect recalled: "The courtyard facades of the side wings, in my opinion, turned out well, but the facade of the concert hall is somewhat stunted. The parapets came out somewhat programmatically academic. The royal pavilion is not bad but complex. Inside, especially the vestibule and staircase, succeeded. I believe that they, as well as the round foyer, are among my successful decorations."

At the same time, Benois built house No. 11 on Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street. It housed the singers and teachers of the chapel.


Among them was the assistant manager Sergey Mikhailovich Lyapunov. From 1889 to 1893, composer Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov, who was then acting as assistant manager of the chapel, lived here. The family of composer Nikolai Andreyevich celebrated their housewarming in apartment No. 66 on the third floor in the autumn of 1889. His guests often included Glazunov, Lyadov, Tchaikovsky, and Stasov. The materials of the exhibition hall of the memorial museum-apartment of Rimsky-Korsakov provide an idea of his multifaceted activities—as a composer, teacher, and conductor serving in the Court Singing Chapel.

Sources:

http://www.rimskykorsakov.ru/121205.html

https://walkspb.ru/istoriya-peterburga/zd/moyka20

https://www.molbertgallery.ru/gallery/history/

https://capella-spb.ru/ru/o-kapelle/istoriya-kapelly

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Jermaine

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