Firsova, Elena Olegovna (1950–)

Russian composer. Name variations: Elena Olegovna Firsova. Born Mar 21, 1950, in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia; father was an atomic physicist; studied with Alexander Pirumov, Yuri Kholopov and Nikolai Rakov at Moscow Conservatory, 1970–75; m. Dmitri Smirnov (composer), 1972; children: Philip and Alissa.

Moved with family to Moscow (1956); attempted 1st composition at 12; developed emotionally expressive melodic style which was then unfashionable in Soviet music; strongly influenced by mentor Edison Denisov, began setting the writings of Russian poet Osip Mandelstam to music (1970s) and returned to Mandelstam poetry many times during career; produced 1st major orchestral piece Cello Concerto (1972); faced criticism from Soviet Composer's Union when her compositions, Sonata for Solo Clarinet and Petrarca's Sonnets, were performed in Cologne (1979); commissioned by BBC, came to prominence in UK with Earthly Life, which premiered in London with the Nash Ensemble (1986); thereafter, received commissions for 2 additional Mandelstam cantatas for Nash Ensemble, Forest Walks (1987) and Before the Thunderstorm (1994); served as composer in residence at Bard College in US (1990), St John's College, Cambridge (1992) and Dartington Hall, Devon (1992); served as visiting professor and composer in residence at Keele University (1993–97); began teaching composition at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (1999); wrote over 100 compositions for operas, oratorios, cantatas, orchestral works, concertos, chamber ensembles and solos; also wrote for Brodsky Quartet, Manchester Wind Orchestra, Schubert Ensemble, Freden Festival and EXPO 2000 (Hanover).