Kirill Vladimirovich Molchanov |

Kirill Molchanov

Born in Moscow on September 7, 1922 in an artistic family. During World War II, he was in the ranks of the Soviet Army, served in the Red Army Song and Dance Ensemble of the Siberian Military District.

He received his musical education at the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied composition with An. Alexandrova. In 1949, he graduated from the conservatory, presenting the opera “Stone Flower”, written based on the Ural tales of P. Bazhov “The Malachite Box”, as a diploma examination paper. The opera was staged in 1950 on the stage of the Moscow Theater. K. S. Stanislavsky and V. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko.

He is the author of eight operas: “The Stone Flower” (based on the stories of P. Bazhov, 1950), “Dawn” (based on the play by B. Lavrenev “The Break”, 1956), “Via del Corno” (based on the novel by V. Pratolini, 1960), “Romeo, Juliet and Darkness” (based on the story by Y. Otchenashen, 1963), “Stronger than Death” (1965), “The Unknown Soldier” (based on S. Smirnov, 1967), “Russian Woman” (based on the story by Y. Nagibin “Babye Kingdom”, 1970), “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” (based on the novel by B. Vasiliev, 1974); the musical “Odysseus, Penelope and Others” (after Homer, 1970), three concertos for piano and orchestra (1945, 1947, 1953), romances, songs; music for theater and cinema.

The operatic genre occupies a central place in Molchanov’s work, most of the composer’s operas are devoted to a contemporary theme, including the events of the October Revolution (“Dawn”) and the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45 (“Unknown Soldier”, “Russian Woman”, “Dawns Here quiet”). In his operas, Molchanov often uses melody, intonationally associated with Russian songwriting. He also acts as a librettist of his own works (“Romeo, Juliet and the Darkness”, “The Unknown Soldier”, “The Russian Woman”, “The Dawns Here Are Quiet”). The songs of Molchanov (“Soldiers are coming”, “And I love a married man”, “Heart, be silent”, “Remember”, etc.) won popularity.

Molchanov is the author of the ballet “Macbeth” (based on the play by W. Shakespeare, 1980) and the television ballet “Three Cards” (based on A. S. Pushkin, 1983).

Molchanov paid much attention to composing theatrical music. He is the author of the musical design for a number of performances in Moscow theaters: “Voice of America”, “Admiral’s Flag” and “Lycurgus’s Law” in the Central Theater of the Soviet Army, “Griboedov” in the Drama Theater. K. S. Stanislavsky, “Student of the 3rd year” and “Cunning Lover” in the theater. Moscow City Council and other performances.

Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1963). In 1973-1975. was director of the Bolshoi Theatre.

Kirill Vladimirovich Molchanov died on March 14, 1982 in Moscow.