Lebedev, Gerasim Stepanovich
(1749–1817)
Lebedev [Lyébidiff], Gerasim Stepanovich (1749, ?; 7–15–1817, P.). Cellist, folklorist, and comp. Was born into a serf family under Count Razumovsky, the dedicatee of Beethoven's Quartets, Op. 59. Accompanied Razumovsky to Italy in 1777 and later traveled on his own, becoming the first Russian instrumentalist to concertize in Western Europe. In 1785 settled in India, where he taught, concertized, studied Indian customs, and collected folklore. Also founded the first public theater in the…