Portrait of Mikhail Glinka by Karl Bryullov, 1840 Glinka in 1856 [1 June [O.S. 20 May] 1804 – 15 February [O.S. 3 February] 1857) was the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition within his own country, and is often regarded as the fountainhead of Russian classical music.[2] Glinka's compositions were an important influence on future Russian composers, notably the members of The Five, who..