Role

:

Conductor Performer

Country

:

Russia

Birth

:

March 6, 1914 in Moscow, Russia

Death

:

March 7, 1981 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Genre

:

Concerto

 

Kirill Kondrashin was a renowned Russian conductor who was born on March 6, 1914, in Moscow. He was the son of a professional violinist and a pianist, and his parents recognized his musical talent at an early age. Kondrashin began his musical education at the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied conducting under Boris Khaykin and Leo Ginzburg. Kondrashin's career as a conductor began in the 1930s, when he was appointed as the conductor of the Young People's Symphony Orchestra in Moscow. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented and innovative conductor, and he was soon invited to conduct the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1943, Kondrashin was appointed as the principal conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic, a position he held until 1956. During his tenure as the principal conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic, Kondrashin became known for his interpretations of the works of Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Shostakovich. He also conducted the premieres of several important works, including Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10 and Prokofiev's Symphony No. 7. In 1956, Kondrashin left the Moscow Philharmonic to become the principal conductor of the Leningrad Philharmonic. He remained in this position until 1960, when he was invited to conduct the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra. Kondrashin's tenure with the Concertgebouw Orchestra was highly successful, and he was credited with raising the orchestra's international profile. Kondrashin's international career continued to flourish throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He conducted many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He also made several recordings with these orchestras, which are still highly regarded today. One of Kondrashin's most famous performances was his 1962 recording of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 with the Moscow Philharmonic. This recording is widely considered to be one of the greatest interpretations of the work, and it helped to establish Kondrashin as one of the leading conductors of his time. Kondrashin was also known for his collaborations with the pianist Van Cliburn. In 1958, Kondrashin conducted the Moscow Philharmonic in a performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, with Cliburn as the soloist. The performance was a huge success, and it helped to launch Cliburn's international career. Throughout his career, Kondrashin received many awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1964, he was awarded the Order of Lenin, one of the highest honors in the Soviet Union. He was also awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and the Order of the Badge of Honor. Kondrashin's career was tragically cut short when he died of a heart attack on March 7, 1981, while conducting a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 7 with the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra. He was 67 years old at the time of his death. Despite his untimely death, Kondrashin's legacy as a conductor and interpreter of classical music lives on. His recordings continue to be highly regarded, and his interpretations of the works of Russian composers are still considered to be some of the best ever recorded. Kondrashin's contributions to classical music have had a lasting impact, and he remains one of the most important figures in the history of classical music.

More....