VIELGORSKY MIKHAIL YURYEVICH AND VIELGORSKY MATVEY YURIEVICH, Counts, musicians, patrons of art, brothers ("brothers of harmony"). Born in St. Petersburg. Their father authored drama and musical works, worked as a parlour musician, and became the honorary director of the Petersburg Philharmonic Society. Mikhail Yuryevich Vielgorsky (1788-1856), composer (The Gypsy opera, two symphonies), pianist and organist, Actual Privy Counsellor (1827). Received an excellent musical education. From 1827, he lived and worked in St. Petersburg; in 1828 he became the Stallmeister of the Court of Grand Princess Elena Pavlovna, and played a key role in A.G. Rubinstein's career, and the Imperial patronage to the Russian Musical Society (RMS). He was also a prominent Mason (Master of Grand Provincial Lodge, adherent of occult sciences). Vielgorsky's musical-artistic salon became the centre of St. Petersburg's musical life. Visiting virtuosos and singers of Italian and Russian operas gave performances there, as well as symphonic concerts: all of L. Beethoven's compositions were performed, R. Schumann conducted, C. Schumann performed F. Mendelssohn's concerto, F. Liszt sight-read and played Ruslan's score for M.I. Glinka. As a member of the Imperial Theatres Board and Stallmeister of the court, Vielgorsky had significant influence on state theatres and appointment of actors to court service. H. Berlioz called his house the "Ministry of Music." Matvey Yurievich Vielgorsky (1794-1866), Stallmeister of the Grand Princess' Court, then of Empress Maria Alexandrovna's Court, Ober-Hofmeister, member of the Imperial Theatres Board, prominent violoncellist, playing solo and in ensembles in his brother's salon, at court, for charitable evenings, and at gatherings of the Concert Society. He associated with J. Field, H. Vieuxtemps, K. Lipinsky, H. Wieniawski, M. Pleiel, A.F. Lvov, and many others. One of the founders and first directors of the Russian Musical Society. Developed a unique collection of stringed instruments, including the quintette by A. Stradivari. In the late 1820s - early 1830s, the Vielgorsky brothers lived at 84 Moika River Embankment, then at 3 Mikhailovskaya Square (today Iskusstv Square) (1833-37), 5 Mikhailovskaya Square (1837-44) and 4 Mikhailovskaya Square (from 1844). The last residence belonged to Matvey Vielgorsky and was known as the Vielgorsky House, an architectural monument to Classicism (1830-32, architect A.M. Bolotov, facade was designed by K.I. Rossi). In the 1830s, E.A. Karamzina (the widow of N.M. Karamzin) lived at the residence, and Alexander Pushkin was a frequent guest. In the middle of the 19th century, A.K. Tolstoy also lived in this house. Today, the building houses the Gymnasium of the Russian Museum. The assembly hall of Vielgorsky's salon was renovated and is now a venue for concerts. The premises have been turned into a small museum dedicated to the Vielgorskys. The Vielgorsky brothers are buried at the cemetery of Alexander Nevsky Lavra (Mikhail in the Lazarevskaya burial vault, Matvey in the Blagoveschenskaya burial vault).

Reference: Щербакова Т. А. Михаил и Матвей Виельгорские: Исполнители. Просветители. Меценаты. М., 1990.

A. L. Porfiryeva.