This Week in Classical Music: January 13, 2025. v. Last week, we ended our story in 1902, with Tatiana Schloezer coming to Moscow to meet Scriabin, who was married, by then rather unhappily, to Vera Isakovich, and with whom he already had four children.Scriabin was taken by Tatiana, who seemed to understand his music in an exalted, spiritual way, as opposed to Vera, who, in Scriabin’s opinion, didn’t appreciate his talent enough.Tatiana started taking piano lessons at Scriabin’s house, much to Vera’s displeasure.The Schloezer siblings, Boris and Tatiana, spent much time with the Scriabins, Alexander playing his music while Tatiana praised it extravagantly and rapturously, often standing on her knees.
Scriabin, who had just finished his Second Symphony, was working on the Third, “The Divine Poem,” the most important (and eventually successful) piece to date.In 1904, with the family situation in trouble, Scriabin suffered another blow: his good friend, benefactor and publisher, Mitrofan Belyaev, died, which drastically changed Scriabin’s financial situation.With few prospects in Russia, the ambitious Scriabin, who always wanted to “conquer Europe,” left for Geneva, alone, without the family.A month later, he asked Vera to join him.With very little money, living in the expensive Geneva was impossible, so they moved to the much cheaper Vésenaz, a village close by.In the meantime, Scriabin continued writing to Schloezer, eventually asking her to come to Switzerland, which she did without delay, settling in Geneva.
The relationship between Tatiana and Scriabin was an open secret in Russia, and very soon the rumors reached poor Vera.Scriabin was ready for a divorce, but to Vera the idea was abhorrent.With everything in the open, however uncomfortable and embarrassing the situation was, Tatiana used it to resume her musical lessons with Scriabin, coming to the house and staying there for hours, to Vera’s chagrin.That didn’t last long: Tatiana, who also had little money, had to move to Brussels and stay with her relatives.With the whole family situation in tatters, Scriabin went to Paris to oversee the premiere of his Third Symphony, which was to be led by Arthur Nikisch, then the principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic.Occasionally he’d visit Tatiana in Brussels.
The long-awaited premiere took place on May 29th of 1905; it was successful, but not without scandals, musical and social.Tatiana, on Scriabin’s invitation, came from Brussels, while Vera, unbeknown to the composer, traveled from Switzerland and announced herself after the concert, infuriating Tatiana and compromising Scriabin, who was called, by a local wit, a bigamist.The critics were divided: some thought the symphony was the new word in contemporary music, others, like Rimsky-Korsakov, hated it.Financially, however, the symphony brought very little money.
Tatiana moved to Paris with Scriabin while he embarked on a new project, a symphony that would become the “Poem of Extasy.”Absorbed in composing, he wasn’t earning any money.Tatiana was pregnant with their first child.His benefactors couldn’t help much, so the couple decided to move to Italy where life was cheaper.In June of 1905, they settled in Bogliasco, next to Genoa.One month later, Alexander and Vera’s elder daughter Rimma died in Vésenaz at the age of seven, and Vera, with three children, returned to Moscow.
We’ll finish the Scriabin-Schloezer story next week.The Third Symphony (“The Divine Poem”) runs for about 45 minutes.It’s in three movements.You can listen to the first movement, Luttes ("Struggles"), here, the second, Voluptés ("Delights"), here, and the third, Jeu divin ("Divine Play"), here.Or you could listen to the whole thing here. Michail Pletnev conducts the Russian National Orchestra.
Scriabin and Schloezer, Part II
This Week in Classical Music: January 13, 2025. v. Last week, we ended our story in 1902, with Tatiana Schloezer coming to Moscow to meet Scriabin, who was married, by then rather
unhappily, to Vera Isakovich, and with whom he already had four children. Scriabin was taken by Tatiana, who seemed to understand his music in an exalted, spiritual way, as opposed to Vera, who, in Scriabin’s opinion, didn’t appreciate his talent enough. Tatiana started taking piano lessons at Scriabin’s house, much to Vera’s displeasure. The Schloezer siblings, Boris and Tatiana, spent much time with the Scriabins, Alexander playing his music while Tatiana praised it extravagantly and rapturously, often standing on her knees.
Scriabin, who had just finished his Second Symphony, was working on the Third, “The Divine Poem,” the most important (and eventually successful) piece to date. In 1904, with the family situation in trouble, Scriabin suffered another blow: his good friend, benefactor and publisher, Mitrofan Belyaev, died, which drastically changed Scriabin’s financial situation. With few prospects in Russia, the ambitious Scriabin, who always wanted to “conquer Europe,” left for Geneva, alone, without the family. A month later, he asked Vera to join him. With very little money, living in the expensive Geneva was impossible, so they moved to the much cheaper Vésenaz, a village close by. In the meantime, Scriabin continued writing to Schloezer, eventually asking her to come to Switzerland, which she did without delay, settling in Geneva.
The relationship between Tatiana and Scriabin was an open secret in Russia, and very soon the rumors reached poor Vera. Scriabin was ready for a divorce, but to Vera the idea was abhorrent. With everything in the open, however uncomfortable and embarrassing the situation was, Tatiana used it to resume her musical lessons with Scriabin, coming to the house and staying there for hours, to Vera’s chagrin. That didn’t last long: Tatiana, who also had little money, had to move to Brussels and stay with her relatives. With the whole family situation in tatters, Scriabin went to Paris to oversee the premiere of his Third Symphony, which was to be led by Arthur Nikisch, then the principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. Occasionally he’d visit Tatiana in Brussels.
The long-awaited premiere took place on May 29th of 1905; it was successful, but not without scandals, musical and social. Tatiana, on Scriabin’s invitation, came from Brussels, while Vera, unbeknown to the composer, traveled from Switzerland and announced herself after the concert, infuriating Tatiana and compromising Scriabin, who was called, by a local wit, a bigamist. The critics were divided: some thought the symphony was the new word in contemporary music, others, like Rimsky-Korsakov, hated it. Financially, however, the symphony brought very little money.
Tatiana moved to Paris with Scriabin while he embarked on a new project, a symphony that would become the “Poem of Extasy.” Absorbed in composing, he wasn’t earning any money. Tatiana was pregnant with their first child. His benefactors couldn’t help much, so the couple decided to move to Italy where life was cheaper. In June of 1905, they settled in Bogliasco, next to Genoa. One month later, Alexander and Vera’s elder daughter Rimma died in Vésenaz at the age of seven, and Vera, with three children, returned to Moscow.
We’ll finish the Scriabin-Schloezer story next week. The Third Symphony (“The Divine Poem”) runs for about 45 minutes. It’s in three movements. You can listen to the first movement, Luttes ("Struggles"), here, the second, Voluptés ("Delights"), here, and the third, Jeu divin ("Divine Play"), here. Or you could listen to the whole thing here. Michail Pletnev conducts the Russian National Orchestra.