Sergei Vasilenko 1872 – 1956

Biography

Sergei Vasilenko was born on March 30, 1872, in Moscow, during a period of remarkable flourishing in Russian musical culture. He devoted his life to composition, contributing to the rich artistic heritage of both Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union across nearly nine decades of living through profound historical change.

Throughout his long career, Vasilenko worked as a composer during one of the most transformative eras in Russian history. He witnessed the twilight of the Russian Empire, the revolutionary upheaval of 1917, and the development of Soviet cultural institutions, remaining active in his creative pursuits through these dramatic shifts in society and governance.

Vasilenko spent virtually his entire life in Moscow, the city of his birth, where he maintained deep roots in the musical community. He died there on March 11, 1956, at the advanced age of eighty-three, leaving behind a legacy shaped by his years of dedication to composition. His final resting place is Vvedenskoye Cemetery in the Lefortovo District, where he was laid to rest as a respected figure in Russian musical history.