Kondrashin, Kirill (Petrovich)

Kondrashin, Kirill (Petrovich), noted Russian conductor; b. Moscow, March 6, 1914; d. Amsterdam, March 7, 1981. He studied piano and theory at the Musical Technicum in Moscow, then took a course in conducting with Khaikin at the Moscow Cons. (1932–36). While still a student, he conducted light opera (1934–37), and then conducted at the Malyi Opera Theater in Leningrad (1937–41). In 1943 he received appointment to the staff of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, where he conducted a wide repertoire emphasizing Russian operas (until 1956). He received Stalin prizes in 1948 and 1949. In 1969 he was named People’s Artist of the U.S.S.R. Kondrashin was the first Soviet conductor to appear in the U.S. (1958), and held numerous subsequent engagements in America, the last being a concert he conducted at the Hollywood Bowl in Feb. 1981. In 1960 he was appointed chief conductor of the Moscow Phil, with which he performed numerous new Soviet works, including Shostakovich’s controversial 13^th Sym. He also taught at the Moscow Cons. (1950-53; 1972-75). After 1975 he increased his guest engagements outside Russia, and in 1978 decided to emigrate; in 1979 he assumed the post of permanent conductor of the Concertgebouw Orch. in Amsterdam. His conducting style was marked by an effective blend of lyrical melodiousness and dramatic romanticism, without deviating from the prevalent Russian traditions. He publ. a book on the art of conducting (Leningrad, 1970).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire