Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1875, composer Reinhold Glière navigated a musical life between political and cultural worlds. He initially studied music at the Kyiv Conservatory, of which in 1914 he became director (after graduating from the Moscow Conservatory in 1900); Stalin admired his music and he won the title of “People’s Artist” many times, and yet even today there remains in Ukraine the
R. Glier Kyiv Municipal Academy of Music. Glière composed bold and lush music rich in melody and with nods to different ethnicities of the Soviet Republics - and Ukraine - and yet his music is also recognized as being very “Russian.” He was caught up in the turmoil of different sides wanting control or independence. In the meantime, Glière just pressed on and composed music that seemed to satisfy everyone. Glière’s Symphony No. 2 from 1908 is today's Midday Masterpiece.
