queerplaces - Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov

andrey rimsky-korsakovAndrey Nikolayevich Rimsky-Korsakov (October 17, 1878 – May 23, 1940) was a Russian musicologist and son of the Russian composers Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Nadezhda Rimskaya-Korsakova. In “Discoveries,” Robert Craft, the Igor Stravinsky’s longtime friend and assistant, writes, “Maurice Ravel and Stravinsky were, of all artists, the most successful in concealing their sexuality. The two were time-to-time lovers....” He further states that Stravinsky had affairs with composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s eldest son, Andrey, and with the Belgian composer Maurice Delage. “In Stravinsky’s own words,” Craft writes, “he was in love with Andrey, a University of St. Petersburg classmate and music critic.” The Firebird is dedicated to Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov.

Rimsky-Korsakov was encouraged in musical pursuits, playing cello in the family string quartet. However he did not pursue music as a career until late in his life.

Rimsky-Korsakov studied philosophy at university and went on to teach the subject in gymnasiums until 1912, when he took the position of music correspondent for the Russian paper Russkaya molva. (Despite being a friend of Igor Stravinsky, among Rimsky-Korsakov's writings for that publication include a scathing review of The Rite of Spring.) He then went on to become founding editor of the first Russian music magazine, Muzïkal'nïy sovremennik (1915–17), which covered musicological study as well as concerts.

After the demise of Muzïkal'nïy sovremennik, Rimsky-Korsakov headed the music department of the Leningrad Saltïkov-Shchedrin Public Library (though he contributed to three issues of the magazine's successor, which began publication in 1922) and taught music theory and music history at Leningrad University as well as the Institute of Historical Studies. Many of Rimsky-Korsakov's more notable efforts were on behalf of his father's work, including the authorship of a five-volume study of his life and work and the establishing of a museum for the late composer.[1] He was married to the composer Yuliya Veysberg.[2]

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