Nikolayev, Aleksei
Internet Edition compiled by Onno van Rijen
Updated 25 March 2004
Born
24 April 1931 in Moscow. He died 28 December 2003 in Moscow.
Education
He graduated from the history faculty of Moscow University in 1953 and then from the Moscow
Conservatory, where he did postgraduate work under Shebalin and was appointed to teach composition
in 1959.
Style
Nikolayev's themes are remarkable for their simplicity and lyrical charm. The fresh and
individual harmony is intimately linked with the Russian tradition, though the expressive quality of
Nikolayev's work is distinctly contemporary.
Works
"Zolotoy klyuchik (The Golden Key)", ballet after A. Tolstoi (1952)
- Libretto: A. Nikolayev.
Liricheskaya syuita na mordovskiye temi (Lyrical Suite on
Mordvinian Themes) for orchestra (1957)
Prazdnichnaya syuita (Festive Suite) for orchestra (1958)
Piano Sonata (1959)
Sonata for violin and piano (1959)
- Arrangement for cello and piano (1979)
LP Melodiya D 18445-6: I. Oistrakh (violin), N. Zertsalova (piano)
Sud'ba cheloveka (The Fate of a Man), symphonic poem after M. Solokov (1959)
Symphony No. 1 in G major opus 21 (1960)
- LP Melodiya D 010305-06: Moscow PO, K. Kondrashin (cond)
"Gore - ne beda (Grief, not Misfortune), opera after S. Ya. Marshak (1956-1961)
- Libretto: A. Nikolayev. First performance in 1962 in the Conservatory of Moscow
"Lastochka (The Swallow), operetta after P. Gayni (1960-1961)
"Lunoglazka (Mooneye)", ballet after R. Borisova (1960-1961)
Symphony No. 2 (1961)
Symphony No. 3 (1962)
"Tsenoyu zhizni (At the Cost of One's Life)", opera after A. Salinsky (1962-1964)
- Libretto: S. Tsenin. First performance in 1965 in Moscow
LP Melodiya D 024649-50: (fragments) Solists, Chorus and orchestra of Moscow Stanislavsky & Nemirovich Theatre, Danchenko / Abdullayev
"Mastera (Masters)", oratorio after A. Voznesensky (1968)
Symphony No. 4 (1968)
Symphony No. 5 in A minor (1971)
"Togda v Sevil'ye (That Time in Seville", operetta after S. Alyoshin (1972-1973)
- Libretto: G. Granovski. In collaboration with A. Kremer
"Gibel' kazach'yego voiska (The Destruction of the Cossack Army", oratorio after P. Vasil'yev (1973)
"Razgrom (Devastation)", opera after A. Fadeyev (1975)
- Libretto: M. Zakharov.
Piano Trio (1979)
String Quartet No. 1 (1980)
"Pir vo vremya chumi / Graf Nulin (A Feast in the Time of Plague / Count Nulin)", opera (1980-1982)
"Rodnoy ochag (The Native Hearth), oratorio after T. Tabidze (1983)
"Mislitel' (The Thinker), opera after A.P. Chekhov (1984)
- Libretto: A. Nikolayev.
"Dom u dorogi (The House by the Road)", oratorio after A. Tvardovsky (1975-1985)
Concerto for piano and chamber orchestra (1986)
"Pesenka o vremeni (A Little Song about Time", oratorio after N. Zabolotsky (1986)
"Posledniye dni (The Last Days)", opera after M. Bulgakov (1986)
- Libretto: A. Kuznetsov and A. Nikolayev
String Quartet No. 2 (1985-1991)
"Peshchenoye deystvo (The Fiery Furnace)", musical drama after the Bible: Daniel, Russian chronicles by S. Polotsky (1992)
- Libretto: A. Nikolayev.
"Venok Alyab'yevu (A Wreath for Alab'yev)", oratorio after Russian poets (1992)
Concerto for flute and orchestra (1992)
Concerto for two pianos and symphony orchestra (1993)
Triple Concerto for violin, cello, piano and orchestra (1993)
Concerto for violin and orchestra (1995)
Quartet for flute, violin, cello and piano (1995)
Quartet for violin, viola, cello and piano (1995)
Trio for flute, cello and piano (1995)
Concerto for oboe and orchestra (1996)
String Quartet No. 3 (1997)
Partita for violin and piano (2003)
String Quartet No. 4 (2003)
And furthermore:
Five Ballads after German folksongs
Folksong Arrangements
October March after Mayakovski for chorus and orchestra
Orchestration of Massenet's opera "Manon"
Song Cycles after Ye. Baratinsky, F. Garcia-Lorca, A. Gidas, M. Karem, M. Lermontov, N. Tryapkin, M. Tsvetayeva, F. Tyutchev, P. Vyazemsky and A. Zhigulin
Thanks to Andrei Komissarov from Russia for additional information.
Please send your comments and additions
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