Poliakov, Valeri(an)

Poliakov, Valeri(an) , Russian composer and conductor; b. Orel, Oct. 24, 1913; d. Kishinev, Jan. 17, 1970. He studied clarinet and composition in Kharkov (1928–34). In 1935 he joined the staff of the Kiev Opera, and in 1937 he was appointed head of the music dept. of the Moldavian Music Theater in Kishinev, and taught at a music school there until 1940; then taught in Armenia (1941–45) and Riga (1945–51). He was music ed. and conductor of the Moldavian Radio (1951–54). He conducted the dance ensemble Zhok (1955–57) and the jazz band Bukuria (1965–66), and also taught at the Kishinev Cons. (1961–70). In 1960 he was made an Honored Artist of the Moldavian S.S.R.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: Where? (1969). Ballet: Iliana, An Ancient Tale (1936); Legend of the Architect (1959); Eternity (1961). ORCH .: Suite on Moldavian Themes (1938); Moldavia, poem (1938); Pictures of Drinking (1939); Fantasia Capriccio on European Themes (1939); 7 syms. (1944; 1946; 1947; Chkalov, 1950; 1958; Heroic Fantasy, 1961; 1966); Triumphant Overture (1947); 2 piano concertos (1948, 1955); Rhapsody-Poem (1951); Through the Flames, poem (1952); Violin Concerto (1953); Cello Concerto (1960); Burleska for Trombone and Orch. (1960); Concerto rustico (1963); Vernal Garden, sinfonietta (1969). CHAMBER : 3 Pieces in Memory of Prokofiev for Violin and Piano (1962); Ballade for Cello and Piano (1963); String Quartet (1965); Concert études for Clarinet and Piano (1966) Concert études for Bassoon and Piano (1966). VOCAL : Ballad to the Soldier for Voices and Orch. (1948); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire