This essay explores the theme of music in Leo Tolstoy’s early short story “Albert” (1858), situating it within the broader context of Tolstoy’s lifelong engagement with aesthetics and the role of art in society. Although scholarly attention has often focused on Tolstoy’s major works and his treatise What Is Art? (1898), “Albert” remains largely overlooked in English-language criticism. Yet, this early narrative offers a compelling literary exploration of ideas Tolstoy would later develop theoretically—particularly the concept of “infectiousness” (zarazitel’nost’), which he defined as the ability of true art to transmit sincere emotion from artist to audience. Through the complex relationship between Albert and his wealthy patron, Delesov, Tolstoy examines the ethical, emotional, and social dimensions of aesthetic experience. This essay argues that “Albert” should be recognized as an important text in Tolstoy’s aesthetic development, anticipating key themes in his later fiction and critical thought, and offering early insight into his conception of authentic art and the artist’s relationship with the audience.