Alexander Aleksandrovich Alyabyev, also rendered as Alabiev or Alabieff (Russian: Александр Александрович Алябьев) (15 August 1787, Tobolsk – 6 March 1851, Moscow) was a Russian composer. He wrote seven operas, twenty musical comedies, more than 200 songs, and many other pieces. His most famous work is The Nightingale, a song based on a poem by Anton Delvig. It was composed while Alyabyev was in prison, in 1825. Both Franz Liszt and Mikhail Glinka later wrote piano variations based on the song. Born to a wealthy family, he learnt music in his early years. He joined the Russian Arm…
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