Conductor, Composer. As founder of the famed Arkhangelsky Choir, which he led for 37 years, he spearheaded a renaissance of Russian choral music in the late 1800s. Arkhangelsky was born in Penza, Russia, and trained as a choirboy there and in St. Petersburg. He began conducting at age 16. Influenced by the Nationalists, he believed his country's sacred music had become too "Westernized" and sought to revive its earlier repertory. When the church Read more on Last.fm