Wielhorsky, Count Mikhail
Wielhorsky, Count Mikhail
Wielhorsky, Count Mikhail, Russian arts patron and composer of Polish descent; b. Volhynia, Nov. 11, 1788; d. Moscow, Sept. 9,1856. His principal mentor in music was Martin y Soler; he learned to play the violin and piano, and began composing at 13. After studying counterpoint in Riga, he completed his studies with Cherubini in Paris (1808). In 1810 he went to St. Petersburg, where his home became the gathering place of many eminent musicians; in 1816 he went to live at his estate in the Kursk province, where he maintained a private orch. After living in Moscow (1823-26) and again in St. Petersburg (1826-56), he spent his last days at his estate near Moscow. His brother, Count Matvei Wielhorsky (b. St. Petersburg, April 26, 1794; d. Nice, March 3, 1866), was also a patron of the arts as well as a cellist; he studied cello with Adolph Meinhardt and Bernard Romberg; toured throughout Russia and in Europe. He lived with his brother in St. Petersburg (1826-56), where he helped to organize the city’s branch of the Russian Musical Soc. in 1859. A distant relative, Joseph Wielhorsky (1817-92), was also a musician who composed piano pieces and songs.
Works
Tsigane (The Gypsies), opera (1838); 3 syms. (1822, 1822, n.d.); 2 overtures (1822, 1836); Air varié for Orch.; Theme varié; String Quartet; String Quintet; piano pieces; many choral works and songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire