Aleksandr Gauk facts for kids

Aleksandr Vassilievich Gauk (Russian: Алекса́ндр Васи́льевич Га́ук; 15 August [O.S. 3 August] 1893 – 30 March 1963) was a famous Russian and Soviet conductor and composer. He was known for leading many orchestras and helping to bring music to life.

Early Life and Music

Aleksandr Gauk was born in Odessa in 1893. He loved music from a young age. He remembered hearing army bands play. His mother also sang and played the piano for him.

When Gauk was seven years old, he started learning to play the piano. At 17, he moved to St Petersburg. There, he was able to study music with important teachers. He learned from Daugover and later from Felix Blumenfeld.

Gauk also had the chance to see famous conductors. He watched Arthur Nikisch, Claude Debussy, and Richard Strauss lead orchestras. He was especially impressed by Arthur Nikisch.

Gauk's Conducting Career

First Steps as a Conductor

Aleksandr Gauk first led an orchestra in 1912. This was with a student group. His first professional conducting job was on October 1, 1917. He conducted Tchaikovsky's opera Cherevichki. This performance took place at the Petrograd Musical Drama Theatre.

During the 1920s, Gauk spent a lot of time working. He was a conductor for the famous Mariinsky Ballet. He also married a ballerina named Elena Gerdt.

Leading Major Orchestras

From 1930 to 1934, Gauk was the main conductor. He led the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. On November 6, 1931, he conducted a very special concert. He led the world premiere of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 3. This symphony is also called "First of May."

In 1932, Gauk began working in Moscow. By 1936, he became the chief conductor of a new radio orchestra. This orchestra later grew into the important USSR State Symphony Orchestra.

War Years and Later Work

During the Second World War, Gauk had to leave Riga. He then taught music in Moscow. After that, he spent two years in Tbilisi. There, he helped to bring back the Georgian State Symphony Orchestra.

Gauk also played a big part in bringing back a lost piece of music. After composer Rachmaninoff died in 1943, Gauk found parts of his First Symphony. Rachmaninoff had thought this symphony was lost. Gauk put the pieces back together.

In 1946, Gauk conducted another world premiere. He led the first performance of Khachaturian's Cello Concerto in Moscow.

Gauk's Own Music and Legacy

Aleksandr Gauk also wrote his own music. He composed a symphony, which is a large piece for orchestra. He also wrote chamber music for string instruments and pieces for piano. Gauk started writing a book about his life, but he did not finish it.

Today, many of Gauk's recordings are still available. A company called Brilliant Classics has reissued some of his works. These include pieces by composers like Arensky, Prokofiev, Khachaturian, and Shostakovich.

Gauk was also a great teacher. Some of his most famous students became important conductors themselves. These include Edouard Grikurov, Yevgeny Mravinsky, Ilja Musin, and Yevgeny Svetlanov.

See also

In Spanish: Aleksandr Gauk para niños