Maksym Berezovsky

Full biography Maksym Berezovsky

Maksym Berezovsky (1745-1777) was a Ukrainian composer, conductor, and singer of the classical era, who is considered a pioneer of Ukrainian and Russian music. He was born in the Ukrainian town of Hlukhiv and trained in music in Saint Petersburg. Berezovsky was one of the first Eastern Slavic composers to write an opera, "Demofoonte" which was performed in Naples, Italy in 1773. In addition to writing operas, he composed choral works in the new Italian style , influenced by sacred concertos created by the Italian court composers.

Berezovsky was sent to study in Bologna, Italy by the Russian court chapel, where he wrote his opera "Demofoonte" and other secular music. He was recognized for his contributions to music by the Russian Empress Catherine the Great and was appointed as the conductor of the Russian imperial chapel.

Berezovsky died at a young age of 32 years due to tuberculosis, which cut his composing career short. His works were published in modern times, and his music is considered important for the development of classical music in Ukraine and Russia. His choral works, including the choral concerto "Ne otverzhy mene" and the symphony in C, are still being performed and recorded today.