Anna Brodsky born around 1856 (we're not totally sure) was born Anna Skadowsky to a lesser nobleman in Russia. She and her sister moved to Paris to pursue a career in science. They worked in a lab and connected with the Russian community in the city.
Via this community she met a Russian socialist, whose name she never reveals in her autobiography to protect his identity as it was pretty risky being a Russian socialist at the time, but with whom she plans to move to Liverpool with. She returns to Russia to tell her family what she's doing and her brother runs and tells her childhood friend Adolph Brodsky, a violinist and teacher, her plans. Adolph comes back, sweeps her off her feet and they get married in 1880.
It is during this time with Adolph that she gets to know many composers, most notably Tchaikovsky, Brahms and the Griegs (Nina and Edvard). She maintains a steady correspondence with Nina Grieg over many years, revealing much about Nina's life with Edvard.
She moves with him to America, back to Europe and finally into Manchester when he starts work at the Royal Manchester College of Music. Anna becomes the President of the Royal Manchester College of Music Club and supports it for many years. It functions as a sort of supporting society for college activities. Her and Adolph work for the college until their deaths in 1929.
Her autobiography "Recollections of a Russian Home" is a fascinating read.
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