Rudolf Barshai
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Rudolf Borisovich Barshai (Russian: Рудольф Борисович Баршай, born on September 28, 1924) is a Soviet/Russian conductor and viola player.
Barshai was born in Stanitsa Lobinskaya, Krasnodar region, Russia. He studied in Moscow Conservatory under Tseitlin and Borisovsky. Barshai performed as a soloist as well as together with Sviatoslav Richter and David Oistrakh, and as a member of a trio with Mstislav Rostropovich and Leonid Kogan. He won numerous Soviet and international competitions. He was also a founder member of the world-famous Borodin Quartet in 1945 and was a member until 1953. In 1954, Barshai married Anna Martinson, a Russian painter and costume designer, and daughter of a popular Soviet 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 the Israel Chamber Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra from 1982 to 1986. He has since settled in Switzerland. Barshai has conducted many reputed orchestras including Vancouver, the London Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, the WDR, Stuttgart, Houston, Miami, Cincinnati, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and many more. 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:
- 1988 Gramophone 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.
[edit] External links
- Rudolf Barshai's website
- Biography - in Russian
- Interview with Barshai - in English
