Iansons, Arvid

(also Arvīds Jansons). According to new data, born Oct. 10 (23), 1914, in Liepája. Soviet conductor. People’s Artist of the USSR (1976).

Iansons graduated from the Liepāja Conservatory in 1935 and the Latvian Conservatory in 1944. In 1931 he became a violinist with the orchestras of the Liepája Opera Theater and the Liepája Philharmonic Society. In 1940 he became a violinist for the orchestra of the Latvian Theater of Opera and Ballet, which he conducted from 1944 to 1952; from 1947 to 1952 he also conducted the symphony orchestras of the Latvian Radio Committee and the Latvian Philharmonic Society. He became conductor of the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Leningrad Philharmonic Society in 1952; from 1964 to 1967 he also directed the society’s symphony orchestra.

Iansons is noted for his brilliantly impulsive style of conducting, marked by dynamic and expressive gestures. He has rendered distinguished service in popularizing the works of Soviet composers. In 1972 he was named to a teaching post at the Leningrad Conservatory. He has made appearances as a conductor abroad.

Iansons received the State Prize of the USSR in 1951 and has been awarded three orders and various medals.