Mily Balakirev
Russia, 1855–1910
Leader and mentor of 'The Five' (the Mighty Handful). The virtuoso fantasy Islamey and a career spent forging a distinctly Russian school free of German academicism.
MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced Mily Balakirev and 6 artists Mily Balakirev influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Mily Balakirev?
- Mikhail Glinka — Glinka personally endorsed the young Balakirev as his successor — the direct handover that founded the Russian national school.
Which artists did Mily Balakirev influence?
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky — Balakirev suggested the subject of Romeo and Juliet, supervised its composition in detailed letters and received its dedication.
- Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov — Balakirev took the teenage naval cadet under his wing and directed his first symphony bar by bar — the founding mentorship of 'The Five'.
- Alexander Borodin — Balakirev drew the chemist Borodin into 'The Five' in 1862 and guided his First Symphony to completion.
- Modest Mussorgsky — Balakirev was Mussorgsky's only real composition teacher, guiding his formative years inside 'The Five'.
- César Cui — Cui was a founding member of Balakirev's 'Five' — Balakirev guided his composition and championed his stage works.
- Alexander Glazunov — Balakirev championed the teenage Glazunov, premiering his First Symphony — the Balakirev circle's blessing on the next generation.