Anton Arensky

Biography

Born: July 12, 1861; Novgorod, Russia   Died: February 25, 1906; Terioki, Russia  
Little known today, Anton Arensky was one of the brightest stars of the late nineteenth century Russian music scene. Arensky was born in 1861 to a pair of devoted amateur musicians under whose guidance he began his training. After private studies (piano and composition) with Zikke in St. Petersburg, Arensky entered that city's conservatory in 1879, taking lessons from Rimsky-Korsakov. He scored consistently high marks with conservatory faculty Read more during his three years as a student, eventually graduating with a gold medal; upon the completion of his studies in 1882 Arensky became one of the youngest professors ever hired by the Moscow Conservatory.

Arensky's years at Moscow were fruitful; between 1882 and his resignation from the Conservatory's faculty in 1895 he completed most of his larger works (including the early Piano Concerto of 1882 and both Symphonies: B minor 1883; A major 1889). In 1891 his first opera, Son na Volge (A Dream on the Volga) -- which he had worked on intermittently since his student days -- was successfully premiered in Moscow. His next operatic endeavor, however, fared rather worse than the first; Rafael was an immediate failure at its 1894 premiere.

Asked to replace Balakirev as director of the imperial chapel in St. Petersburg, Arensky returned to his home city in 1895; save for occasional national and international tours, he remained there for the rest of his life. By the mid-1890s Arensky's somewhat diminished stature as a composer was replaced by an increased public awareness of his gifts at the keyboard and on the podium. Having served as director of the Russian Choral Society (1888 to 1895) during his Moscow days, Arensky was no stranger to the baton, and in 1901 he resigned his position at the imperial chapel to pursue a fuller schedule of conducting and performing appearances. Death came prematurely in 1905 when Arensky, after decades of hard living and overindulgence, succumbed to tuberculosis.

Save for the well-known Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky for string orchestra, little of Arensky's substantial output has maintained a place on contemporary concert programs. He was essentially a miniaturist, and his finest music is to be found in the shorter works for solo piano and his melodious songs (which seem to have influenced Rachmaninov's conception of Russian song). Arensky's style, especially in such early works as the Piano Concerto and First Symphony, is too inconsistent to bear witness to a strong musical personality, and instead presents as a pastiche of stylistic traits borrowed from a variety of influences, such as Chopin and Tchaikovsky (though rarely Arensky's own teacher Rimsky-Korsakov). However, his influence as a teacher -- to such future luminaries as Rachmaninov and Scriabin -- has earned him a place of distinction in the history of Russian music. Read less

Featured Anton Arensky CDs & DVDs:

Rachmaninoff: Elegiac Trio; Arensky: Piano Trio No. 1; Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2
Rachmaninoff: Elegiac Trio; Arensky: Piano Trio No. 1; Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2
Release Date: 07/10/2015   Label: Nimbus  
Catalog: 5917   Number of Discs: 1
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Browse 51-75 of 100 Available Recordings
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  • 51.
    Russian Piano Music, Vol. 5 - Anton Arensky / Anthony Goldstone
    Russian Piano Music, Vol. 5 - Anton Arensky / Anthony Goldstone
    Label: Divine Art   Catalog: 25085 Release Date: 06/08/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anton Arensky
    Performer:  Anthony Goldstone
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  • 52.
    Ravishingly Russian / Simpson, Houston Chamber Choir
    Ravishingly Russian / Simpson, Houston Chamber Choir
    Label: Msr   Catalog: 1311 Release Date: 08/11/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Alexander Dargomizhsky,  Sergei Taneyev,  Sergei Rachmaninov,  César Cui  ... 
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  • 53.
    Arensky, Rimsky-korsakov / Nash Ensemble
    Arensky, Rimsky-korsakov / Nash Ensemble
    Label: Crd Records   Catalog: 3409 Release Date: 05/01/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  Anton Arensky
    Performer:  Antony Pay,  Judith Pearce,  John Pigneguy,  Brian Wightman  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Nash Ensemble
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  • 54.
    Arensky: Piano Concerto, Fantasia / Yablonsky, Scherbakov, Russian PO
    Arensky: Piano Concerto, Fantasia / Yablonsky, Scherbakov, Russian PO
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8570526 Release Date: 04/28/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anton Arensky
    Performer:  Konstantin Scherbakov
    Conductor:  Dmitry Yablonsky
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Russian Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 55.
    Debut / Saint Michael Trio
    Debut / Saint Michael Trio
    Label: Cd Baby   Catalog: 5637459846 Release Date: 10/30/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anton Arensky,  Felix Mendelssohn,  John Williams,  Astor Piazzolla  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Saint Michael Trio
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  • 56.
    35th Anniversary Opera Gala / Orbelian, Hvorostovsky, Bernadi, Grivnov, Et Al
    35th Anniversary Opera Gala / Orbelian, Hvorostovsky, Bernadi, Grivnov, Et Al
    Label: Delos   Catalog: 3395 Release Date: 09/30/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ruggero Leoncavallo,  Francesco Cilèa,  Sergei Rachmaninov,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky  ... 
    Performer:  Dmitri Hvorostovsky,  Marina Domashenko,  Olga Guryakova,  Ewa Podles  ... 
    Conductor:  Constantine Orbelian,  Alfred Heller,  Gerard Schwarz,  Mario Bernardi  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia of Russia,  Moscow Chamber Orchestra,  Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 57.
    Music Of Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninoff / Eastman Trio
    Music Of Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninoff / Eastman Trio
    Label: Vox Box   Catalog: 3021 Release Date: 07/01/2008   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Mikhail Glinka,  Sergei Rachmaninov,  Anton Arensky  ... 
    Performer:  Jürgen Meyer-Josten
    Conductor:  Jörg Faerber
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Eastman Piano Trio,  Nieuw Amsterdam Trio,  Württemberg Chamber Orchestra
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  • 58.
    Capriccioso: Under The Blue Skies
    Label: Cello Classics   Catalog: 11020 Release Date: 11/01/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Camille Saint-Saëns,  Niccolò Paganini,  Johannes Brahms,  Alexander Alyabyev  ... 
    Performer:  Alexander Rudin,  Victor Ginsburg,  Iana Ivanilova,  Vladimir Skanavi
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  • 59.
    Leonid Sobinow - Recordings 1901-1911
    Leonid Sobinow - Recordings 1901-1911
    Label: Hafg   Catalog: 10234 Release Date: 07/23/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  César Cui,  Alexander Borodin,  Anton Rubinstein,  Alexander Grechaninov  ... 
    Performer:  Leonid Sobinov,  Antonina Neshdanova
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  • 60.
    Live From El Paso Pro Musica - Arensky, Dohnányi / Harrell
    Live From El Paso Pro Musica - Arensky, Dohnányi / Harrell
    Label: Delos   Catalog: 1040 Release Date: 02/06/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ernö von Dohnányi,  Anton Arensky
    Performer:  Zuill Bailey,  Kirsten Johnson,  Giora Schmidt,  Soovin Kim  ... 
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  • 61.
    Shostakovich, Arensky: Piano Trios / Claremont Trio
    Shostakovich, Arensky: Piano Trios / Claremont Trio
    Label: Tria Records   Catalog: 5637251483 Release Date: 01/16/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anton Arensky,  Dmitri Shostakovich
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Claremont Trio
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  • 62.
    Prima Voce - Nina Koshetz
    Prima Voce - Nina Koshetz
    Label: Nimbus   Catalog: 7935 Release Date: 01/09/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  Maurice Ravel,  Traditional  ... 
    Performer:  Nina Koshetz
    Conductor:  Bruno Reibold
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  • 63.
    Tchaikovsky, Arensky: Piano Concertos / Blumental, Et Al
    Tchaikovsky, Arensky: Piano Concertos / Blumental, Et Al
    Label: Brana Records   Catalog: 13 Release Date: 05/30/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anton Arensky,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer:  Felicja Blumental
    Conductor:  Jiri Waldhans,  Michael Gielen
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Brno State Philharmonic Orchestra,  Vienna Musikgesellschaft Orchestra
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  • 64.
    Daniil Shtoda - Tenor
    Daniil Shtoda - Tenor
    Label: Delos   Catalog: 3348 Release Date: 09/20/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  Alexander Grechaninov,  Antonio Spadavecchia,  Eduard Nápravník  ... 
    Performer:  Daniil Shtoda,  Elena Tsvetkova
    Conductor:  Constantine Orbelian
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  • 65.
    Tchaikovsky Variations - Tchaikovsky, Arensky / Geringas
    Tchaikovsky Variations - Tchaikovsky, Arensky / Geringas
    Label: Ebs   Catalog: 6123 Release Date: 05/31/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anton Arensky,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer:  David Geringas
    Conductor:  David Geringas
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Pforzheim Southwest German Chamber Orchestra
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  • 66.
    The Russian Legacy - Zara Dolukhanova
    The Russian Legacy - Zara Dolukhanova
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 2281/84 Release Date: 01/25/2005   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Alexander Dargomizhsky,  Gioachino Rossini,  Sergei Rachmaninov,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky  ... 
    Performer:  Zara Dolukhanova,  Berta Kozel,  Nadezhda Kazantseva,  Anton Ossipovich Bernard  ... 
    Conductor:  Leonid Piatigorsky,  Samuel Samosud,  Alexander Kovalev,  Rudolf Barshai
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra,  Moscow Chamber Orchestra
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  • 67.
    Jeux D'enfants / Amy And Sara Hamann
    Jeux D'enfants / Amy And Sara Hamann
    Label: Cd Baby   Catalog: 5637318080 Release Date: 01/04/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Witold Lutoslawski,  Anton Arensky,  Georges Bizet,  Franz Liszt  ... 
    Performer:  Amy Hamann,  Sara Hamann
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  • 68.
    Arensky: Raffaello; Et Al / Domashenko, Orbelian, Et Al
    Arensky: Raffaello; Et Al / Domashenko, Orbelian, Et Al
    Label: Delos   Catalog: 3319 Release Date: 10/05/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anton Arensky
    Performer:  Marina Domashenko,  Alexander Vinogradov,  Tatjana Pavlova,  Vsevolod Grivnov
    Conductor:  Constantine Orbelian
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Spiritual Revival Choir of Moscow,  Philharmonia of Russia
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  • 69.
    The Romantic Piano Trio
    The Romantic Piano Trio
    Label: Beryllium Records   Catalog: 5637422494 Release Date: 08/31/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anton Arensky,  Paul Schoenfield,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Robert Schumann  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  THE ORION MUSIC ENSEMBLE
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  • 70.
    Treasures Of The St. Petersburg State Museum
    Label: Nimbus   Catalog: 79156 Release Date: 05/01/2004   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Alexander Grechaninov,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Georges Bizet,  Anton Arensky  ... 
    Performer:  Leonid Sobinov,  Lev Klement'yev,  Oscar Kamionsky,  Maksimilian Maksakov  ... 
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  • 71.
    Arensky: Piano Trios No 1 & 2 / The Borodin Trio
    Arensky: Piano Trios No 1 & 2 / The Borodin Trio
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10184 Release Date: 04/27/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anton Arensky
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Borodin Trio
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  • 72.
    Arensky: Symphony No 2, Etc / Sinaisky, Bbc Philharmonic
    Arensky: Symphony No 2, Etc / Sinaisky, Bbc Philharmonic
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10024 Release Date: 01/20/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anton Arensky
    Conductor:  Vassili Sinaisky
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 73.
    Arensky: Three Suites / Yablonsky, Moscow Symphony Orchestra
    Arensky: Three Suites / Yablonsky, Moscow Symphony Orchestra
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8553768 Release Date: 11/18/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anton Arensky
    Conductor:  Dmitry Yablonsky
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Moscow Symphony Orchestra
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  • 74.
    Violin Virtuoso Masterpieces / Mischa Elman, Joseph Seiger
    Violin Virtuoso Masterpieces / Mischa Elman, Joseph Seiger
    Label: Artemis Records   Catalog: 1199 Release Date: 11/11/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  William Kroll,  Arthur Benjamin,  Christoph W. Gluck,  Claude Debussy  ... 
    Performer:  Mischa Elman,  Joe Seiger
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  • 75.
    Arensky: Symphony No 1, Fantasia, Variations / Polyansky, Russian State SO
    Arensky: Symphony No 1, Fantasia, Variations / Polyansky, Russian State SO
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10086 Release Date: 07/22/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anton Arensky
    Performer:  Dmitry Miller,  Tatiana Sharova,  Andrei Batyrkin,  Tatiana Polyanskaya
    Conductor:  Valeri Polyanskii
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Russian State Symphonic Cappella,  Russian State Symphony Orchestra
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