Yuri Vsevolodovich Gamaley |

Yury Gamaley

Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1977). In 1950 he graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory (student of I. Sherman), in 1953 – postgraduate studies (headed by B. Khaikin). In 1950-56 he was a lecturer in the conducting class of the Leningrad Conservatory and conductor of the Maly Theater (1951-55), in 1953-84 a conductor of the Theater. Kirov.

Under the direction of Gamalei, a number of new ballet performances were staged, including Othello, Bedbug, Choreographic Miniatures (in 3 parts); carried out a number of major renewals (“Chopepiana”, “Egyptian Nights”, “Carnival”, etc.), prepared and conducted graduation performances of LCU (1954, 1964, 1967-71), in which the ballets “Kiss of the Fairy” by I. Stravinsky were performed , “Grenada” by S. Banevich, “Vasily Terkin” by V. Boyashov, “Toward Life” to the music of D. Kabalevsky, etc.

A special place in the biography of the conductor is occupied by S. Prokofiev’s ballet “The Stone Flower”, which is performed on the stage of the Theater. Kirov in the musical edition of Gamaley and which he conducted continuously for 27 years. During the years of work in the Theater. Kirov Gamaley conducted all classical ballets and 20 modern ones. In 1958-80 he conducted ballets and concert programs during the tour of the ballet troupe of the Theater. Kirov in Egypt, Hungary, East Germany, Iran, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Japan, Cuba.

Compositions: Concert of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. – Leningradskaya Pravda, 1958, July 3.

References: Behind the conductor’s stand. – Theatrical Leningrad, 1977, No. 24.

A. Degen, I. Stupnikov