Background
Glafira Alymova was the daughter of Colonel Ivan Akinfievich Alymov.
Glafira Alymova was the daughter of Colonel Ivan Akinfievich Alymov.
She studied at the Smolny Institute from 1764 to 1776, as one of its first students, and excelled in music
On her graduation in 1776, she was decorated as one of its five best students, and was made lady in waiting to the Empress Catherine the Great. The Empress was fond of her because of her good humor and temperament. Her second marriage, to a man twenty years younger than her and of lower social status, was regarded a scandal.
Mariya Svistunova was the eldest child and only daughter of the Rzhevskii family.
Glafira Alymova was regarded as one of the best harpists of her time. She was awarded the order of Street Catherine by Empress Catherine.