Boris Liatoshinskii

Born Dec. 22, 1894 (Jan. 3, 1895), in Zhitomir; died Apr. 15, 1968, in Kiev. Soviet composer, conductor, and teacher. People’s Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (1968).

Liatoshinskii graduated from the law department of the University of Kiev in 1918 and from R. M. Gliere’s course in composition at the Kiev Conservatory in 1919. He began teaching at the conservatory in 1920, taking over the composition course in 1922 and becoming professor in 1935; simultaneously, during 1935-38 and 1941-44, he was professor at the Moscow Conservatory.

Liatoshinskii’s creative legacy embraces all musical genres; his works, distinguished by high craftsmanship and striking stylistic individuality, combine the many characteristic elements of Slavic music. His compositions include the operas The Golden Hoop (1930, Kiev; 2nd version staged in 1970, T. G. Shevchenko State Prize of the Ukrainian SSR, 1971) and Shchors (1938, Kiev; 2nd version, The Commander, 1948); orchestral works, including five symphonies, three symphonic poems, and three suites; and five string quartets, The Ukrainian Quintet (2nd version, 1945; State Prize of the USSR, 1946), and other instrumental ensembles. He also wrote cantatas, choruses, piano pieces, art songs, and music for stage and screen (Taras Shevchenko, 1951; State Prize of the USSR, 1952). He was awarded the Order of Lenin and three other orders, as well as Soviet and foreign medals.