Leonid Desyatnikov |

Leonid Desyatnikov

One of the most performed contemporary Russian composers. Born in Kharkov. In 1978 he graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory in composition with Professor Boris Arapov and in instrumentation with Professor Boris Tishchenko.

Among his works: “Three Songs to Verses by Tao Yuan-Ming” (1974), “Five Poems by Tyutchev” (1976), “Three Songs to Verses by John Ciardi” (1976), Seven Romances to Verses by L. Aronzon “From XIX century “(1979),” Two Russian songs “on the verses of R.M. Rilke (1979), cantata on verses by G. Derzhavin “The Gift” (1981, 1997), “Bouquet” on verses by O. Grigoriev (1982), cantata “The Pinezhsky Tale of the Duel and the Death of Pushkin” (1983 d.), “Love and Life of a Poet”, a vocal cycle on the verses by D. Kharms and N. Oleinikov (1989), “Lead Echo / The Leaden echo” for voice(s) and instruments on verses by J.M. Hopkins (1990), Sketches for Sunset for symphony orchestra (1992), symphony for choir, soloists and orchestra The Rite of Winter 1949 (1949).

Instrumental works: “Album for Ailika” (1980), “Three stories of the jackal / Trois histories du chacal” (1982), “Echoes of the theater” (1985), “Variations on finding a home” (1990), ” Towards the Swan / Du Cote de shez Swan “(1995),” According to Astor’s canvas “(1999).

Opera writer: “Poor Liza” (1976, 1980), “No one wants to sing, or Bravo-bravissimo, pioneer Anisimov” (1982), “Vitamin Growth” (1985), “Tsar Demyan” (2001 , a collective author’s project), “Children of Rosenthal” (2004 – commissioned by the Bolshoi Theater) and the stage version of P. Tchaikovsky’s cycle “Children’s Album” (1989).

Since 1996, he has been intensively collaborating with Gidon Kremer, for whom he wrote “Like an Old Organ Grinder / Wie der Alte Leiermann…” (1997), a chamber version of “Sketches to Sunset” (1996), “Russian Seasons” (2000 as well as transcriptions of works by Astor Piazzolla, including the tango operetta “Maria from Buenos Aires” (1997) and “The Four Seasons in Buenos Aires” (1998).

Collaborated with the Alexandrinsky Theatre: created the musical arrangement for the performances The Inspector General by N. Gogol (2002), The Living Corpse by L. Tolstoy (2006), The Marriage by N. Gogol (2008, director of all performances — Valery Fokin).

In 2006, Alexei Ratmansky staged a ballet to the music of The Russian Seasons by Leonid Desyatnikov for the New York City Ballet, since 2008 the ballet has also been staged at the Bolshoi Theatre.

In 2007, Alexei Ratmansky staged the ballet Old Women Falling Out to the music of Leonid Desyatnikov’s Love and Life of a Poet (the ballet was shown first at the Territory festival and then as part of the New Choreography Workshop at the Bolshoi Theatre).

In 2009-10 Musical Director of the Bolshoi Theatre.

Film music composer: “Sunset” (1990), “Lost in Siberia” (1991), “Touch” (1992), “The Supreme Measure” (1992), “Moscow Nights” (1994), ” The hammer and sickle “(1994),” Katya Izmailova “(1994),” Mania Giselle “(1995),” Prisoner of the Caucasus “(1996),” The one who is more tender “(1996) ), “Moscow” (2000), “Diary of his wife” (2000), “Oligarch” (2002), “Prisoner” (2008).

Leonid Desyatnikov was awarded the Golden Aries and the Grand Prix of the IV International Film Music Biennale in Bonn for the music for the film Moscow (2000 and 2002) and a special prize “For Contribution to National Cinematography” at the Window to Europe Film Festival in Vyborg (2005).

The production of the opera Tsar Demyan at the Mariinsky Theater was awarded the Golden Sofit Award in the nomination Best Opera Performance (2002), and the opera The Children of Rosenthal was awarded a special award by the Musical Theater Jury of the Golden Mask National Theater Award – For the initiative in the development of contemporary Russian opera” (2006)

In 2012, he was awarded the Golden Mask Award in the Best Work of a Composer in Musical Theater nomination for the ballet Lost Illusions staged at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Leonid Desyatnikov – winner of the State Prize of the Russian Federation for the performance of the Alexandrinsky Theater “Inspector” (2003).

Source: bolshoi.ru

Photo by Evgeniy Gurko