Tchaikovsky
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Ippolit Al'tani

Ippolit Karlovich Al'tani (Ипполит Карлович Альтани), or Ippolit Altani, was a Russian conductor, choirmaster and violinist, born on 15/27 May 1846 in Ukraine.

A contemporary of Tchaikovsky at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, was taught by Henryk Wienawski, Nikolai Zaremba and Anton Rubinstein, graduating in 1866. He then secured a position as choirmaster and conductor at the Russian Opera in Kiev (1867-1881), before becoming principal conductor at the Bol'shoi Theatre in Moscow (1882-1906).

Al'tani premiered many of Tchaikovsky's work, including The Year 1812 (1882) and Elegy for String Orchestra (1884), and conducted the first performances at he Bol'shoi Theatre of the operas Mazepa, The Enchantress, The Queen of Spades and Iolanta. Al'tani also assisted Tchaikovsky with preparations to conduct Cherevichki at the Bol'shoi Theatre in 1887.

Ippolit Al'tani died on 17 February 1919 in Moscow, aged 72.