Golitzin Nikolai (Borisovich) Russian

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Golitzin Nikolai (Borisovich) Russian

Golitzin, Nikolai (Borisovich), Russian nobleman and patron of music, father of Yuri (Nikolaievich) Golitzin; b. St. Petersburg, Dec. 19, 1794; d. Tambov district, Nov. 3, 1866. He was a talented cello player, but his name is remembered mainly because of his connection with Beethoven, who dedicated the overture op. 124 and the string quartets opp. 127, 130, and 132 to him. Golitzin was also responsible for the first performance of Beethoven’s Missa solemnis (St. Petersburg Phil. Soc., April 7, 1824).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire