Alexander Nikolaevich Scriabin was a great composer, whose music was mesmerizing and seemed mystical. He was a pioneer in the direction of light music, and then the listener did not understand him, but today it is widely used in musical compositions.
A.N. Scriabin: a brief biography
The great composer and musician was born in Moscow in 1872 in the family of a student at Moscow University, who in the future became a diplomat and held an important position. A year after his birth, his mother died of illness, in 1878 his father was sent to work at the embassy in Constantinople. Little Alexander remained in the care of his grandparents and father’s sisters.
At a very young age, Alexander began to show interest in music and already at the age of 5 he knew how to play the piano. Soon he was sent to the cadet corps, which he graduated from and entered the Moscow Conservatory in piano and composition. While still studying in the cadet corps, Scriabin took private lessons and worked diligently.
For some time he worked abroad, where he earned a living by performing his own compositions. Then he returned to Russia, began to teach at the conservatory, periodically performed in France, Belgium as a conductor and pianist, and also gave concerts in Moscow.
In total, he had 7 children from two spouses, although he was not officially married to his second wife. He died of blood poisoning due to an unsuccessfully squeezed boil, they buried him in the Novodevichy cemetery.
In memory of the composer, back in 1922, the Scriabin Museum was opened in Moscow. His second wife took control of him.
Scriabin Museum
They decided to create a museum in memory of the great composer in his apartment, an old mansion where he lived for the last three years, having died in 1915. This is an ancient museum, which was opened in 1922, where it was possible to preserve the atmosphere in which Scriabin lived, thanks to all household items.
It was great luck that no one was hooked into the apartment and they did not make a communal apartment out of it. In 1918, the widow of the composer received a paper, which said about the inviolability of the apartment.
In the 30s, when there was ideological “pressure” in the country, it was difficult to maintain the museum, during the war all items were taken out for preservation, and then they made repairs and opened a little later, when everyone could come.
All the furniture in the apartment is original, was created by famous Russian and foreign furniture makers in the early 20th century. The most invaluable items are the pianos, for which the composer worked. You can also see photographs, documents, letters, and, of course, a personal library on various topics (philosophy, science, ethics).
Museum expositions
When the Scriabin Museum was opened in 1922, three rooms were presented to the viewer's eyes: a dining room, a bedroom and an office, the number of exhibits at that time was 455 units.
Two years later, another room was opened, where you could see the famous Becker piano and the "light circle", which was specially designed for the composer by his friend-engineer. In addition to musical objects, letters, manuscripts, a bust of the composer and tailcoat in which he performed for the last time are presented. Over the years, the collection has been constantly replenished with various small and large things and today it is about 30 thousand units.
Today A.N. Memorial Museum Scriabin offers all guests to see six rooms and feel the atmosphere of those years. In addition to the above rooms, a nursery, an entrance hall and a living room were added, although the children's room was not preserved, and various documents and letters of the composer were presented there.
Museum activities
At present, the Scriabin Memorial Museum is not just a museum, but a scientific and educational center where various events are held. Guests have the opportunity to visit thematic tours, listen to fascinating lectures, come to creative meetings with famous musicians, artists and other artists.
Scriabin’s music was unique and original in its own way, it always felt impulsiveness, nervousness and anxiety. Many documents were preserved in the apartment, according to which scientific work was carried out, and it was started by the widow T.F. Schletser and continued by followers. In the future, it is planned to open an international research center to study the areas of music.
Scriabin Museum in Moscow: how to get there
The museum is located at 11 Bolshaya Nikolopeskovsky Lane, not far from the Vakhtangov Theater and a few hundred meters from the Smolenskaya metro station.
Museum opening hours and cost
The Scriabin Museum is open every day, except Mondays and Tuesdays, from 11.00 to 19.00 hours, and on Thursdays from 13.00 to 21.00.
The cost of an adult ticket is 200 rubles. It is also possible to purchase tickets at a discount for privileged categories of citizens (schoolchildren, full-time students, pensioners and large families). Guides, temporary exhibitions, lectures for schoolchildren are paid separately. All ongoing events can be found by phone or on the museum website.