Russian composer Achilles Nikolaevich Alferaki © TaganrogCity.Com

Alferaki, Achilles Nikolayevich (Greek: Αχιλλέας Αλφεράκης); (Russian: Алфераки, Ахиллес Николаевич), sometimes spelled as Akhilles or Ahilles was a Russian composer and statesman of Greek descent. He was born in 1846 in Kharkov (present-day Ukraine). He spent all of his childhood in the city of Taganrog in the magnificent palace on Catholic Street (currently “Alferaki Palace” on Frunze Street). Achilles received good home education and easily entered the historical and philological faculty at the Moscow University, where he also studied music theory. Music was his favorite pastime, but he could not dedicate all of his time for it. The family business made him return to Taganrog, where he settled in the end of 1870. 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Kharkov (rus: Ха́рьков) or Kharkiv (ukr: Ха́рків) is the second largest city in Ukraine, a center of Kharkivska oblast. It is situated in the northeast of the country and has a population of two million. ... The Palace of Achilles Alferaki in Taganrog © TaganrogCity. ... Moscow State University campus M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (Московский Государственный Университет имени М.В.Ломоносова, often abbreviated МГУ, MSU, MGU) is considered the oldest university in Russia, founded in 1755. ... The Palace of Achilles Alferaki in Taganrog © TaganrogCity. ... 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1880 Achilles Nikolayevich Alferaki was elected Mayor of Taganrog. During his chairmanship he made many useful public affairs. He made Taganrog beautiful and clean and took part in establishing different charitable institutions. During his mayor’s period of office, Taganrog streets and roads were covered with cobblestones, trees were planted along the pavements, and the first boulevards were introduced. Mayor Alferaki contributed to the establishment of the "The Society for the Relief of the Aged Poor", established in 1883, and to development of elementary education system in the city. At the city council meetings, Achilles Nikolaevich Alferaki introduced many new proposals. Some of them looked fantastic and wasteful for Taganrog's politicians, but some of them were realized. For example, Alferaki's proposals to erect a monument to Peter I The Great and to make a major reconstruction of Taganrog's harbor were realized. Even his mayoralty could not make him forget his passion - the music. He took part in the activity of Taganrog's Music and Dramatic Society. The first music classes and a symphony orchestra, directed by famous hand-master and composer V.I. Suk opened in Taganrog. 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Palace of Achilles Alferaki in Taganrog © TaganrogCity. ... The Palace of Achilles Alferaki in Taganrog © TaganrogCity. ... The Palace of Achilles Alferaki in Taganrog © TaganrogCity. ... 1883 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Palace of Achilles Alferaki in Taganrog © TaganrogCity. ...

The Alferaki Palace in Taganrog © TaganrogCity.Com

Music lovers like Mayor Alferaki himself helped Taganrog become known as one of the most music-loving cities in the South of Russia. In 1880, when the Greek composer lived in Taganrog in his mansion on the Catholic Street, he gathered the whole beau monde of the city. Achilles Alferaki was also a talented artist. A large collection of caricatures is now kept at the Taganrog Museum of Local Lore (The Alferaki Palace). With these rare sketches and drawings, we have a chance of seeing the people, who lived in Taganrog some hundred years ago through the eyes of a contemporary, getting the spirit of parties and balls of that time. The Palace of Achilles Alferaki in Taganrog © TaganrogCity. ... The Palace of Achilles Alferaki in Taganrog © TaganrogCity. ... 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Palace of Achilles Alferaki in Taganrog © TaganrogCity. ...

In 1888 Alferaki gave his resignation and moved to Saint Petersburg, where he became Chancellor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1891, and later Director of the Russian Telegraph Agency. Alferaki devoted much of his time to music. In the former capital of the Russian Empire he wrote more than 100 romances, compositions and two operas “St. John's Eve” and “The Erl King”. Achilles Alferaki died in 1919. 1888 is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and Petrograd (Петрогра́д, 1914–1924), is a city located in Northwestern Russia on the delta of the river Neva at the east end of the Gulf of Finland... 1891 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Imperial Russia is the term used to cover the period of Russian history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great, through the expansion of the Russian Empire from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposal of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

External links

• Official Web Site of the City of Taganrog, English
• Official Web Site of the City of Taganrog, Russian