- Rudolf Barshai
Rudolf Borisovich Barshai ( _ru. Рудольф Борисович Баршай, born on
September 28 ,1924 ) is a Soviet/Russia n conductor andviola player.Barshai was born in
Stanitsa Lobinskaya,Krasnodar region,Russia . He studied inMoscow Conservatory under Tseitlin and Borisovsky. Barshai performed as a soloist as well as together withSviatoslav Richter andDavid Oistrakh , and as a member of a trio withMstislav Rostropovich andLeonid Kogan . He won numerous Soviet and international competitions. He was also a founding member of the world-famousBorodin Quartet in 1945 and was a member until 1953.In 1954, Barshai marriedAnna Martinson , a Russian painter and costume designer, and daughter of a popularSoviet comic,Sergey Martinson .In 1955, Barshai formed
Moscow Chamber Orchestra , which he led and conducted until he emigrated to the West in 1977. He led theIsrael Chamber Orchestra and theBournemouth Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 1986. He has since settled inSwitzerland . Barshai has conducted many renowned orchestras, including the Vancouver Symphony, the London Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic,Orchestre National de France , theWDR , Stuttgart Radio Symphony,Houston Symphony , Miami Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, andTokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra .Barshai achieved fame as a musical interpreter and arranger of Shostakovich's and Prokofiev's music and as conductor of
Gustav Mahler 's and Shostakovich's works. Many of his recordings have earned critical acclaim and have won international awards:
* 1988Gramophone Awards - Concerto :Tchaikovsky , Piano Concerto No. 2, Rudolf Barshai conducting Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra; solo: Donohoe (EMI)
* 2003 Cannes Classical Music Award: Orchestral 20 Century: Shostakovich: Complete Symphonies; Barshai (Brilliant Classics)
* 2003 Editor's Award (ClassicsToday.com): Record of the Year: Shostakovich: Complete Symphonies; Barshai (Brilliant Classics).In 2000, Barshai produced a completion of
Gustav Mahler 's Tenth Symphony, which was left unfinished at the composer's death.External links
* [http://www.rudolfbarshai.com/ Rudolf Barshai's website]
* [http://www.krugosvet.ru/articles/73/1007360/1007360a1.htm Biography] - in Russian
* [http://www.dschjournal.com/journal17/barshai.htm Interview with Barshai] - in English
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