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150 years of Moscow Conservatory

The Moscow Conservatory was founded in 1866

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The Moscow Conservatory is the second oldest conservatory in Russia. Photo: Lobby of the Moscow Conservatory Grand Hall, 1985

© Anatoly Morkovkin and Alexander Chumichev/Fotokhronika TASS

The conservatory was founded in 1866. Photo: Conductor Alexander Solovyev and the Chamber Choir of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory

© Artyom Geodakyan/TASS

At its opening, Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky was appointed professor of theory and harmony, a post he held until approximately 1878. Since 1940, the conservatory has borne Tchaikovsky's name. Photo: The Chamber Choir of Moscow Conservatory perform in the Rakhmaninov Hall

© Artyom Geodakyan/TASS

The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution. Photo: A student plays the violin at the corridor of the conservatory, 2010

© Alexei Filippov/ITAR-TASS

Students of the Moscow Conservatory taking an exam

© Alexei Filippov/ITAR-TASS

The Moscow Conservatory has five concert halls.The Grand Hall of the conservatory is famous for its remarkable acoustics. Photo: Musicians rehearsing in the Moscow Conservatory's Grand Hall, 2015

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

The list of distinguished Moscow Conservatory graduates includes conductor Yuri Bashmet, composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, conductor Vladimir Spivakov, pianist Sviatoslav Richter, conductor Mstislav Rostropovich and many others. Photo: Conductor Yuri Bashmet with the Moscow Soloists chamber ensemble perform at the Moscow Conservatory's Great Hall, 2008

© Valery Sharifulin/ITAR-TASS

People listen to the premiere of Georgian composer Giya Kancheli's 'Once upon a time' performed by conductor Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists chamber ensemble at the Moscow Conservatory's Great Hall, 2008

© Valery Sharifulin/ITAR-TASS

Sviatoslav Richter's concert at the Moscow Conservatory, 1983

© Alexandr Konkov/Fotokhronika TASS

The halls of the conservatory underwent major renovation

© Valery Sharifulin/ITAR-TASS

The renovation of the Grand Hall was completed in 2011. Photo: Timber floor repairs in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory

© Valery Sharifulin/ITAR-TASS

A large window decorated with beautiful stained glass with a depiction of Saint Cecilia was restored and now can be seen at the Grand Hall of the conservatory

© Maxim Shemetov/ITAR-TASS

The renovation of the Rakhmaninov Hall was finished in 2016. Photo: Pianist Denis Matsuyev performs in Rakhmaninov Hall of the Moscow Concervatory, 2016

© Vyacheslav Prokofyev/TASS

The Moscow Conservatory was founded in 1866 and the higher musical education institution turns 150 years on September 13. Among its graduates are composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, conductor Vladimir Spivakov, pianist Sviatoslav Richter, conductor Mstislav Rostropovich and many other distinguished musicians. TASS takes a closer look at the second oldest conservatory in Russia in this photo gallery.

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