Svetlanov, Evgeny (Feodorovich)

Svetlanov, Evgeny (Feodorovich), prominent Russian conductor and composer; b. Moscow, Sept. 6, 1928. He studied composition with Mikhail Gnessin and piano with Mariya Gurvich at the Gnessin Inst. in Moscow (graduated, 1951); took courses in composition with Shaporin and in conducting with Gauk at the Moscow Cons, (graduated, 1955). In 1953 he made his debut as a conductor with the All-Union Radio orch. in Moscow; was a conductor at the Bolshoi Theater there from 1955, serving as its chief conductor (1962-64). In 1965 he was appointed chief conductor of the State Sym. Orch. of the U.S.S.R.; from 1979 he was a principal guest conductor of the London Sym. Orch. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the U.S.S.R. State Sym. Orch. became the Russian State Sym. Orch. Svetlanov retained his position as its chief conductor, and also served as chief conductor of the Residentie Orch. in The Hague from 1992. He also made appearances as a pianist. In 1968 he was named a People’s Artist of the U.S.S.R.; in 1972 he was awarded the Lenin Prize and in 1975 the Glinka Prize. He has won particular distinction for his compelling performances of the Russian repertoire. He wrote a Sym. (1956), Siberian Fantasy for Orch. (1953), Piano Concerto (1951), incidental music for plays, and film scores. He is married to Larissa Avdeyeva.

Bibliography

L. Krylova, E. S.(Moscow, 1986).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire