Boris Leonidovich Bitov (Bitov, Boris) |

Bitov, Boris

Pupil of the Leningrad Conservatory; studied with M. Yudina (piano), M. Steinberg and M. Gnesin (composition). In the year of graduating from the conservatory (1941) he wrote the ballet suite The Birthday of the Infanta. This genre also includes two major works by Bitov – “Twelve Months” (1953) and “Gavroche” (1957), written in collaboration with. E. Kornblit.

The Czech folk tale about the twelve brothers-months is retold by the composer in a clear, beautiful musical language. The music contains many extended scenes written in terms of dance suites. A large place in the score is occupied by the Czech folk dance polka. The light, gentle music of Dobrunka and Irzhik is opposed by the gloomy music of the Stepmother and Zloboga. The image of the queen-girl is conveyed by grotesque and capricious melodies.

L. Entelic