Alexander Serov facts for kids
Alexander Nikolayevich Serov (born January 23, 1820 – died February 1, 1871) was an important Russian composer and music critic. He was one of the most well-known music critics in Russia during the 1850s and 1860s. He was also a leading Russian composer between the time of Dargomyzhsky's Rusalka and the works of Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, and Tchaikovsky.
Alexander Serov was the father of the famous Russian artist Valentin Serov.
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Life and Music of Alexander Serov
Alexander Serov was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, on January 11, 1820. His father, Nikolai Ivanovich Serov, worked for the government's Finance Ministry. Alexander's mother's grandfather, Carl Ludwig Hablitz, was a scientist who moved to Russia from Germany.
Alexander's father wanted him to become a lawyer. So, Alexander went to the Imperial School of Jurisprudence to study law. However, Alexander was much more interested in music. While studying law, he became good friends with Vladimir Stasov, who later became a famous art critic.
From Law to Music
After finishing his law studies in 1840, Serov worked as a lawyer in different cities like St. Petersburg, Pskov, and Simferopol. But his love for music was stronger. In 1850, he left his law job to focus on composing music and writing about it. He also gave lectures about music. These activities did not always pay him well.
In 1863, Alexander Serov married his student, Valentina Serova. She also became a composer. In 1865, their son, Valentin Serov, was born. Valentin grew up to be a very famous painter. He was known for his portraits of important people. Some of his famous paintings include Girl with Peaches and The Girl Covered by the Sun.
His Legacy and Operas
Alexander Serov sadly died suddenly from a heart attack in 1871. His wife, Valentina, finished his last opera and worked to keep his musical legacy alive.
As a composer, Serov is best known for his operas. His first opera, Judith, was first performed in 1863. His operas, including Judith and Rogneda, were very popular when they first came out. Today, his operas are not performed often, but parts of them are sometimes played in concerts. A recording of Judith was made in 1991 by the Bolshoi Theatre.
Alexander Serov was a respected critic and composer. However, he sometimes had disagreements with other musicians and critics. For example, he and his old friend Stasov disagreed about the importance of Glinka's operas. Serov also admired the composer Richard Wagner, which sometimes caused issues with a group of rising Russian composers known as The Mighty Handful.
Operas by Alexander Serov
- Judith (1861–63)
- Rogneda (1863–65)
- The Power of the Fiend (1867–71)
See also
In Spanish: Aleksandr Serov (compositor) para niños
