Mykola Lysenko

Full biography Mykola Lysenko

Mykola Lysenko was a Ukrainian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist born on March 22, 1842, in the village of Markivka, Ukraine. He is widely regarded as one of the most significant figures in the development of Ukrainian classical music.

Lysenko was born into a musical family, and he showed a keen interest in music from a very young age. His father gave him his first lessons on the violin, and by the time he was 12 years old, he was already playing professionally. He later went on to study at the Leipzig Conservatory in Germany, where he studied the piano, composition, and music theory.

After returning to Ukraine, Lysenko became one of the leading figures in the cultural and artistic revival of Ukraine in the late 19th century. He traveled throughout Ukraine, collecting and recording traditional Ukrainian folk songs, which he would later use as inspiration for his own compositions.

Some of Lysenko's most famous works include the opera "Taras Bulba," the symphony "From the Shores of the Dnieper," and his numerous choral works, including the mass "For Ukraine." His music, which often featured Ukrainian folk melodies and themes, was highly influential in the development of Ukrainian music and culture.

Aside from his work as a composer, Lysenko was also a respected music teacher and mentor to many young Ukrainian musicians. He founded the first Ukrainian music school in Lviv in 1904, which later became the Lviv Conservatory.

Lysenko passed away on August 6, 1912, in Carlsbad, Czech Republic, leaving behind a legacy as one of Ukraine's most celebrated composers and cultural icons. Today, he is honored through numerous statues, museums, and concert halls throughout Ukraine, and his music continues to be widely performed and celebrated.