Blumenfeld, Felix (Mikhailovich)
Blumenfeld, Felix (Mikhailovich)
Russian composer and conductor; b. Kovalevka, near Kherson, April 19, 1863; d. Moscow, Jan. 21, 1931. He studied piano in Elizavetgrad, then went to St. Petersburg, where he studied composition with Rimsky-Korsakov. Upon graduation in 1885, he joined the staff of the Cons, and taught there until 1905, and again from 1911 to 1918. From 1895 to 1911 he was the conductor at the Imperial Opera in St. Petersburg; he was also a guest conductor in the Russian repertoire in Paris during the “Russian seasons” in 1908. He was a pianist of virtuoso caliber, and also active as an accompanist for Chaliapin and other famous singers. From 1918 to 1922 he was a prof. of piano at the Cons, of Kiev, and from 1922 to his death he taught at the Moscow Cons. Among his piano students was Vladimir Horowitz. As a composer, Blumenfeld excelled mainly in his piano pieces and songs, many publ. by Belaiev. He also wrote a sym., entitled To the Beloved Dead, a String Quartet, and other pieces.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire