Highlighting the masterpieces and popular works of Mikhail Glinka, the pioneering composer of Russian music

Mikhail Glinka, a Russian composer.

He was the first to create truly Russian music for the nation and the first Russian composer to gain wide renown abroad, earning him the title “the father of modern Russian music.”

He actively formed friendships with contemporary poets and painters; in particular, under the influence of the poet Pushkin, he began writing distinctly Russian works.

In this article, we have picked out some of Glinka’s masterpieces and popular pieces.

While his works are naturally Russian in character, they also possess a romantic and unique atmosphere—some pieces convey a Chopin-like sweetness, and others are sets of variations based on melodies from operas that were fashionable at the time.

Many of his compositions express a love for Russia, so please enjoy his music!

Playlist

Highlighting the masterpieces and popular works of Mikhail Glinka, the pioneering composer of Russian music
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	From Farewell to Saint Petersburg, No. 10: The LarkMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		A delicate and beautiful piano piece that expresses the melancholy of the Russian people.
2	Variations on the Theme of Alyabyev’s “The Nightingale”Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Piano Variations on a Song by Alyabyev
3	Variations on a Theme from Mozart’s The Magic FluteMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		An elegant set of variations based on the melody of The Magic Flute
4	Overture from the opera ‘Ruslan and Lyudmila’Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka		The grand overture of adventure and romance
5	Nocturne “Farewell” in E minorMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Performing a melancholy piano piece with a viola trio
6	From the Trio élégiaque in D minor: Movement III and Movement IVMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Performance of Beethoven's 'Pathétique' Trio
7	Boat SongMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Glinka’s barcarolle, depicting Venetian scenes through music
8	Variations on the Russian Folk Song ‘Along the Gentle Valley’Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka		A piano piece based on variations of a Russian folk song
9	Song of the CherubimMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		An angelic, beautiful choral piece with profound spirituality
10	Patriotic SongMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		A song that was used as the national anthem of Russia
11	Overture from the opera “Ivan Susanin”Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Russia’s first full-fledged opera, emphasizing patriotism
12	PrayerMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		The fusion of Glinka’s serene piano pieces and faith
13	Variations on a Scottish ThemeMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		An elegant work by Glinka that varies an Irish folk song
14	Mazurek in A-flat major, G. vi 160Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka		A bright short piano piece by Glinka
15	Memories of the MazurkaMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		An elegant piece of folk music with the rhythm of a mazurka
16	Septet in E-flat majorMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Performance of the Septet in E-flat major
17	Fantasy WaltzMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Performance of Fantastical Waltz in B minor
18	String Quartet in F majorMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		String Quartet in F major, Movement I
19	Lyudmila’s Aria from the opera Ruslan and LyudmilaMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Aria of Ruslan and Lyudmila
20	Romance of Antonida from the opera ‘A Life for the Tsar’Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Romance of Antonida from Ivan Susanin
21	Fantasia “Kamarinskaya”Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Fantasia based on Russian folk songs
22	From Three Russian Songs, Movement IMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Three performers play “Do Not Tempt Me Without Cause” from the Russian Song Collection.
23	From Three Russian Songs, Movement IIMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Performing Russian songs as a trio
24	From Three Russian Songs, Movement IIIMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Performing Russian songs on the flute and other instruments
25	From Farewell to Saint Petersburg, No. 11: To MollyMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Russian Cello Music Concert
26	Farewell to Saint Petersburg, No. 3: BoleroMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Farewell Bolero performance to Saint Petersburg
27	Spanish Overture No. 1Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka		The Región de Murcia Symphony Orchestra performs the brilliant capriccio from the Spanish Overture.
28	Spanish Overture No. 2Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Performance Record of the Spanish Overture
29	Galop-Style Improvisation on the Theme from Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore”Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Galop-style improvisation on a work by Donizetti
30	Brilliant Divertimento on a Theme from Bellini’s Opera “La sonnambula”Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Piano Concertante Divertimento on Themes from Bellini’s Operas
31	Viola Sonata in D minor, 1st movementMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Viola Sonata in D minor, First Movement
32	Viola Sonata in D minor, Movement IIMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Viola Sonata in D minor, Movement II Performance
33	From Piano Trio “Pathétique” in D minor: Movement I and Movement IIMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Beethoven Pathetique Trio Performance
34	Aria of Ivan Susanin from the opera “A Life for the Tsar.”Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Aria performance from Ivan Susanin
35	Overture to Ruslan and LyudmilaMikhail Glinka		Glinka’s Russian National Opera Overture
36	Memories of summer nights in MadridMikhail Glinka		Composed by Glinka, a masterpiece of Spanish overtures
37	Overture from the opera ‘Ruslan and Lyudmila’Mikhail Glinka		Evoking the opening of a tale, 'The Opera Ruslan…'
38	Overture to the opera “Ruslan and Lyudmila”Mikhail Glinka		Glinka’s opera overture: brilliant and brimming with vibrancy
39	Nocturne in E-flat majorMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		Chopin Nocturne in E-flat major
40	Chernomor March from the opera Ruslan and LyudmilaMikhail Ivanovich Glinka		A grand Russian orchestral piece depicting a wizard