Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

December 14, 1906 in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine

Death

:

February 20, 1971 in Moscow, Russia

 

Alexander Zfasman was a Russian-born composer and pianist who lived from 1906 to 1971. He was born in the city of Odessa, which was then part of the Russian Empire. His parents were both musicians, and his father was a well-known conductor. Zfasman showed an early talent for music, and he began studying piano at a young age. Zfasman's family moved to Moscow when he was a teenager, and he continued his musical studies there. He attended the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied composition with Nikolai Myaskovsky and piano with Konstantin Igumnov. He graduated from the conservatory in 1929, and he began his career as a composer and pianist. Zfasman's early works were influenced by the Russian composers of the time, such as Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich. He wrote several works for piano, including a piano concerto and a set of preludes. He also wrote chamber music, including a string quartet and a sonata for violin and piano. In the 1930s, Zfasman became interested in the music of the French composer Maurice Ravel. He began to incorporate elements of Ravel's style into his own compositions, and he became known for his use of rich harmonies and colorful orchestration. He also began to experiment with different forms, such as the suite and the ballet. One of Zfasman's most famous works is his ballet "The Humpbacked Horse," which he composed in 1941. The ballet is based on a Russian folk tale, and it tells the story of a young man who befriends a magical horse. The ballet was a great success, and it has become one of the most popular ballets in the Russian repertoire. During World War II, Zfasman worked as a composer for the Soviet Army. He wrote patriotic songs and music for propaganda films. After the war, he continued to compose music for films, including the score for the 1957 film "The Cranes Are Flying," which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In the 1950s and 1960s, Zfasman's music became more experimental. He began to incorporate elements of jazz and rock music into his compositions, and he wrote several works for electronic instruments. He also continued to write music for the stage, including several operas and ballets. Zfasman died in Moscow in 1971, at the age of 65. He left behind a large body of work, including over 100 compositions for piano, chamber music, orchestral works, and music for the stage and screen. His music continues to be performed and recorded today, and he is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century.

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