Klenovsky, Nicholas Semenovich

1857-

Russian composer and orchestra conductor; born at Odessa. At the Conservatory of Moscow he studied under Hubert and Tschaikowsky, and in 1849 was appointed to assist Nicolai Rubinstein in organizing the initial performance of Eugene Onegin by Tschaikowsky. He became conductor of the University Orchestra and assistant conductor of the Imperial Opera at Moscow, and in 1893 director of the Music School at Tiflis. In 1902 he obtained the position of subdirector of the Imperial Chapel. Deeply interested in music from the historical and ethnological point of view, he assisted Melgounow in collecting and arranging Russian folksongs, and gave much attention to the music of the different Caucasian nations. He has written some music, notably, a Georgian Liturgy a cappella; several successful ballets, and incidental music to the plays, Antony and Cleopatra and Messaline.