Musical Alma Mater

The Moscow Conservatory, alma mater of numerous Russian and non-Russian musicians, composers and soloists, was officially opened September 1, 1866.

The creation of the Conservatory was the lifetime dream of its founder — the pianist, composer, conductor and pedagogue Nikolai Rubinshtein (1835-1881). Rubinshtein approached this ambitious project gradually, first setting up in Moscow a department of the Russian Music Society and then in 1863 beginning musical classes there.

Rubinshtein was clearly inspired by the example of his elder brother Anton (1829-1894) — a brilliant pianist whose concerts in Europe and America earned him world-wide fame. He also wrote 15 operas, of which Demon is the most well known.