Early life
The Wielhorski family home was located near the Mikhailovsky Palace, home of Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich of Russia, whose wife Princess Charlotte of Württemberg, Elena Pavlovna hosted a political and musical salon. Matvei's brother Mikhail Wielhorski was a composer. There was no music school, conservatory in Russia during those days, so Wielhorski and his brother studied in Paris under Cherubini. When they returned to Russia they were given positions at the Tsar's court and, as members of the aristocratic class, became patrons of the arts. European music like Mozart and Beethoven, composers that the Wielhorski's held in high regard, had come to Russia by way of the salons, such the one hosted by Grand Duchess Pavlovna, and The Philharmonic Society. Pavlovna introduced Matvei to Anton Rubinstein.Composers
Glinka
The Wielhorski's provided rehearsal space for Glinka's opera ''A Life for the Tsar''. Trained in Italy, Glinka became Russia's first major composer. ''A Life for the Tsar'' has been described as "patriotic and very monarchist", with a story by Vasily Zhukovsky and ''libretto'' by the Baron G. F. Rosen.Robert Schumann
Schumann dedicated his ''Piano Quartet'' to Wielhorski, who had entertained the composer and his wife, Clara, on their visit to St. Petersburg in 1844. The evening included a lengthy performance of chamber music which included Schumann's own ''Symphony No. 1 (Schumann), First Symphony''. The Schumanns were reportedly impressed with Wielhorski's rendition of Mendelssohn's cello sonatas. Works by Beethoven, Louis Spohr, Spohr (played by violist Bernhard Molique) and Glinka were also performed.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wielhorski, Matvei Russian cellists Polish cellists Counts of the Russian Empire 1794 births 1866 deaths Burials at the Annunciation Church of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra