Evgeny Aleksandrovich Mravinsky biography of the conductor. Evgeniy Mravinsky: “I am not afraid of death, but I am attached to life...”. – Cat and mouse is an exciting game

For fifty years (1938-1988) he headed the Honored Ensemble of Russia, the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Leningrad Philharmonic. Mravinsky is one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, a significant figure in the cultural life of Leningrad.

Biography

Born into the noble family of Alexander and Elizaveta Mravinsky. Father, Alexander Konstantinovich (1859-1918), a graduate of the Imperial School of Law, was a member of the consultation at the Ministry of Justice, served as a district legal adviser to the military district council of the Petrograd Military District and had the rank of Privy Councilor. Mother, Elizaveta Nikolaevna (1871-1958), came from noble family Filkov. Father's sister, Evgenia Mravinskaya, was a famous soloist Mariinsky Theater in 1886-1900 under the pseudonym Mravina. Her father's half-sister was Alexandra Kollontai. Among Mravinsky's relatives is the poet Igor Severyanin.

He studied at the 2nd St. Petersburg Gymnasium and at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Petrograd University, which he dropped out due to the inability to combine studies with work in the theater. He studied at the conducting and choral technical school at the Leningrad Academic Chapel. He worked as a mimance artist at the Mariinsky Theater and as a pianist at the Choreographic School, where he thoroughly studied the complex technique of classical dance. In 1924 he entered the Leningrad Conservatory in the composition department. In 1927, he began studying at the conducting department, where he acquired technical skills and the ability to work with scores. From 1929 to 1931 he was the head of the musical department of the Leningrad Choreographic School.

He made his debut at the Mariinsky Theater in 1932. In 1932-1937 he conducted about 40 programs with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1934, this orchestra was one of the first in the USSR to receive the honorary title of Honored Ensemble of the Republic. In 1932-1938 he was a conductor of the Mariinsky Theater, mainly of the ballet repertoire. In 1938, having won the First All-Union Conducting Competition in Moscow, he headed the Symphony Orchestra of the Leningrad Philharmonic, which he directed for almost 50 years.

In 1939 he was the first to perform Shostakovich's Sixth Symphony. In 1940 he made his debut in Moscow. After the start of the Great Patriotic War Mravinsky's orchestra was evacuated to Novosibirsk. From there, in September 1944, the orchestra returned to Leningrad.

1946 - Mravinsky's first foreign tour. He visited Finland, where he also met with famous composer Jean Sibelius. In 1954, for services to development musical art Mravinsky was awarded the title people's artist USSR. 1955 - second foreign tour of the Mravinsky Orchestra - in Czechoslovakia. 1956 - tour in the GDR, West Germany, Switzerland and Austria, 1958 - tour in Poland, 1960 - tour in seven countries Western Europe, 34 concerts. Since then, Mravinsky's orchestra has gone on tour approximately every two years, to Western or Eastern Europe(8 times in Austria, 6 times in Japan). Mravinsky’s last foreign tour took place in 1984, and last concert- March 6, 1987 at Great hall Leningrad Philharmonic.

Since 1961 Mravinsky taught at the Leningrad Conservatory, and since 1963 he has been a professor.

Evgeny Aleksandrovich Mravinsky was born on June 4, 1903 in St. Petersburg.
His mother, Elizaveta Nikolaevna, was of noble origin from the Filkov family. Alexander Konstantinovich, father, served with the rank of full state councilor. Such famous personalities like Igor Severyanin, Alexandra Kollontai and Evgenia Mravinskaya (soloist of the Mariinsky Theater in late XIX c.) were relatives of Evgeniy Alexandrovich.

From the very beginning of his studies, high school student Evgeny Mravinsky was inclined towards natural science. In 1920, he began studying at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Petrograd University. At the same time, Evgeny Mravinsky worked as a mimance artist at the Mariinsky Theater. Combining study and work was impossible, and Evgeniy left his studies. In 1921, Mravinsky received the position of full-time pianist-accompanist at the Leningrad Choreographic School, and in 1924 he became a student in the composition department of the Petrograd Conservatory. First attempt to enter this educational institution
in 1923 was not successful: Mravinsky’s noble origin blocked the path, despite successfully passing the exams. Since 1927, Evgeniy Alexandrovich has been studying in the conducting department, and since 1929 he has been working at the Leningrad Choreographic School as the head of the musical department.
Evgeny Alexandrovich's debut performance at the Mariinsky Theater took place in 1932. Over the next six years he was the theater conductor. The first All-Union Conducting Competition in 1938 in Moscow ended with the victory of Evgeniy Mravinsky, which allowed him to lead the Symphony Orchestra of the Leningrad Philharmonic.

Evgeny Mravinsky was a lifelong friend of Dmitri Shostakovich and was the first performer of most of Shostakovich’s later symphonies - No. 5, No. 6, No. 8, No. 9, No. 10, No. 11 November 3, 1957, No. 12).
Unfortunately, because of the 13th symphony, Shostakovich and Mravinsky became somewhat distant. And Shostakovich’s last three symphonies were premiered by other musicians.
Symphony No. 13 “Babi Yar” in B-flat minor op.113. On December 18, 1962, Shostakovich's 13th symphony was performed in Moscow and...immediately removed from the repertoire and banned.
The text is based on five poems by the poet E. A. Yevtushenko: “Babi Yar”, “Humor”, “In the Store”, “Fears”, “Career”.
Shostakovich said that the poem “Babi Yar” shocked him so much that the decision to write music to these words came instantly. The Thirteenth Symphony was created in an unprecedentedly short time, but the authorities tried to disrupt its premiere one way or another. Fearing possible persecution, they refused to perform the symphony worldwide. famous performers: conductor Evgeny Mravinsky, invited by Shostakovich himself, and singer Boris Gmyrya. Conductor Kirill Kondrashin and young singer Vitaly Gromadsky saved the situation. However, literally on the eve of the premiere, Kondrashin was threatened with a ban if there was no mention of Russian and Ukrainian victims. Yevtushenko had to add four lines:

I'm standing here, as if at a spring,
giving me faith in our brotherhood.
Here Russians and Ukrainians lie,
lie in the same land with the Jews.

These four lines saved the performance of the symphony.

Symphony No. 14 was first performed in Leningrad on September 29, 1969 by the Moscow Chamber Orchestra conducted by Rudolf Barshai.
The premiere of Symphony No. 15 was performed in Moscow on January 8, 1972, conducted by Maxim Shostakovich.

***
The year 1946 was marked by Mravinsky's first tour abroad. During his trip to Finland, Evgeniy Alexandrovich was lucky enough to meet Jean Sibelius, the famous composer. In 1954, Evgeny Mravinsky received the title of People's Artist of the USSR, and in 1961 - the Lenin Prize (the first among Soviet conductors).
Since then foreign concerts The orchestra of the great conductor took place very often: residents of Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland and even Japan had the opportunity to hear live music performed by this group.
On March 6, 1987, the Great Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonic hosted the last concert of Yevgeny Mravinsky.
On January 19, 1988, Evgeniy Alexandrovich passed away. His body was buried at the Bogoslovskoye cemetery.

Symphony No. 8 in C minor (Opus 65) by Dmitri Shostakovich was written in the summer of 1943, and was first performed on November 4 of the same year by the USSR Academic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Evgeniy Mravinsky, to whom the Eighth Symphony is dedicated.

The recording of the Eighth Symphony was made in 1982.

Evgeny Aleksandrovich Mravinsky Date of birth May 22 (June 4) 1903 (19030604) Place of birth Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire Date of death January 19, 1988 Place of death Leningrad ... Wikipedia

Mravinsky, Evgeniy Alexandrovich- Evgeniy Aleksandrovich Mravinsky. MRAVINSKY Evgeniy Alexandrovich (1903 1988), conductor. In 1932 38 conductor of the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater. Since 1938 chief conductor and artistic director Symphony Orchestra of the Leningrad Philharmonic ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Mravinsky Evgeniy Alexandrovich- (19031988), conductor, People's Artist of the USSR (1954), Hero of Socialist Labor (1973). Born in St. Petersburg. He worked as an extra in the performance of the former Mariinsky Theater (until 1925), studied at the Faculty of Science of Petrograd University,... ... Encyclopedic reference book "St. Petersburg"

- (1903 88) Russian conductor, People's Artist of the USSR (1954), Hero of Socialist Labor (1973). In 1932 38 at the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater. Since 1938, chief conductor and artistic director of the Leningrad Symphony Orchestra... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- [p. 22.5(4.6). 1903, St. Petersburg)], Soviet conductor, People's Artist of the USSR (1954), Hero of Socialist Labor (1973). In 1931 he graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory, where he studied conducting in the classes of N. A. Malko and A. V. Gauk. In 1932≈1938… … Big Soviet encyclopedia

- (1903 1988), conductor, People's Artist of the USSR (1954), Hero of Socialist Labor (1973). Born in St. Petersburg. He worked as an extra in the performance of the former Mariinsky Theater (until 1925), studied at the Faculty of Science of Petrograd University,... ... St. Petersburg (encyclopedia)

- (1903 1988), conductor, People's Artist of the USSR (1954), Hero of Socialist Labor (1973). Student of A. V. Gauk, N. A. Malko. In 1932 38 at the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater. Since 1938, chief conductor and artistic director of the symphony... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

Genus. 1903, d. 1988. Conductor. He worked at the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater (1932-38). Chief conductor and artistic director of the Leningrad Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (since 1938). Laureate of the State (1946) and Lenin (1961)… … Large biographical encyclopedia

(04.06.1903 - 19.01.1988)

Evgeniy Alexandrovich was born on June 4 (May 22, old style) 1903 in St. Petersburg into the noble family of Alexander Konstantinovich and Elizaveta Nikolaevna Mravinsky.

Alexander Konstantinovich (1859-1918), a lawyer by training, was an active state councilor (4th civilian rank in the table of ranks, corresponding to the rank of major general in the army); according to other sources, he had the rank of actual privy councilor (which corresponded to the rank of general). Elizaveta Nikolaevna (1871-1958) came from the noble family of the Filkovs.

Of the ancestors and relatives, the most famous are:

grandfather - Konstantin Iosifovich Mrovinsky (this is how the surname was written in early XIX century) (1829-1917) (military engineer, completed his service with the rank of major general);

father's sister - Evgenia Konstantinovna Mravinskaya (1864-1914) (stage name Mravina), famous soloist of the Mariinsky Theater in 1886-1900;

father's half-sister - Alexandra Mikhailovna Kollontai;

Igor Vasilievich Lotarev (Northerner).

Parents paid a lot of attention to the upbringing and education of their only son. He began to study languages ​​early - first French, then German.

First piano lessons by Valentina Avgustovna Stram. First visit to the Mariinsky Theater (The Sleeping Beauty by P.I. Tchaikovsky). It was that unforgettable day when Mravinsky saw and heard a symphony orchestra for the first time in his life.

Visit to the opera "Siegfried" by R. Wagner. IN main party- Ivan Ershov. Conductor - A. Coates. Throughout his life, Evgeniy Aleksandrovich remained attached to his “first” composers - Tchaikovsky and Wagner.

At the age of 11, Mravinsky was immediately enrolled in the second grade of the gymnasium. Of all the subjects, he is most attracted to natural science. He compiles rich collections of insects, studies scientific works in entomology, ornithology, botany.

Home piano lessons with pianist O. Achkasova-Brandt continue.

Forced to look for work after the death of his father, Evgeniy entered the mimance group of the Mariinsky Theater (at that time already the Opera and Ballet Theater). Nikolai Konstantinovich Cherkasov, at that time a mimance artist, and later an outstanding actor, became one of his comrades.

Ivan Ershov drew attention to the young mimist. Subsequently, the great artist followed Mravinsky’s rapid growth with true sympathy and attention, and friendly relations developed between them (it is possible that Mravinsky took part in the production of Ershov and Maslovskaya’s opera “Kashchei the Immortal” in 1919).

But the then director of the theater, Emil Albertovich Cooper, had a special influence on the young Mravinsky.

“When I now think about the path I have traveled and try to remember who and when first gave me an ineradicable passion for conducting, I remember a man somewhat similar to both Wagner and Napoleon, endowed with brilliant talent, inexhaustible energy, and enormous will. This was Emil Cooper, who combined the conductor of the troupe, artistic director and chief conductor of the theater, carrying out almost all the performances of the repertoire. It was he who introduced into me that “grain of poison” that connected me with the art of conducting for the rest of my life. It was then that I became interested in the romance of theatrical music-making, felt and understood the symphony of opera and ballet music.”

Admission to the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Petrograd University. However, due to the inability to combine studies with work in the theater, where he had to not only participate in evening performances, but also attend morning rehearsals, Evgeniy Alexandrovich stopped studying at the University. Another reason for leaving the University was an internal, purely intuitive anxiety: what if natural sciences were not his true calling? Apparently, then a firm decision arose to devote himself to music.

Without leaving work in the theater, Mravinsky entered the Leningrad Choreographic School as a full-time pianist-accompanist, in the class of teacher E. Vecheslova-Snetkova. The work consisted of piano accompaniment of the numerous exercises that the students performed every day. I had to play, improvising on the go and unquestioningly following the instructions of the teacher. Such work (which sometimes became unbearably boring for the talented young man) also had a positive side: in the lessons, Mravinsky thoroughly studied the complex technology of classical dance, which, of course, helped him in his further work in the ballet theater.

First attempt to enter the conservatory. Mravinsky took the exam, intending to study in the double bass class (“I was prompted to do this by the lack of necessary theoretical knowledge requirements for applicants to the composition department, where I had long wanted to get into,” the conductor later recalled). However, despite the successful outcome of the exams, he was not accepted into the conservatory due to noble origin(although later they preferred not to officially remember this reason).

But Evgeny Alexandrovich did not give up. In the same year he began to attend classrooms Petrogradskaya academic chapel, where, under the guidance of teacher I. Vishnevsky, he comprehends the basics of musical theoretical disciplines.

After the entrance exams to the composition class, in the fall of 1924, Evgeniy Aleksandrovich became a student at the Petrograd Conservatory.

Among the teachers: M.M. Chernov, Kh.S. Kushnarev, P.B. Ryazanov, V.V. Shcherbachev (composition class).

“The creative atmosphere of the conservatory at that time was amazingly meaningful and rich. As I now see Glazunov, whose musical and human authority was indisputable, passing with a heavy gait; miniature figure l. Nikolaev, who inspired sacred awe not only in students; the unusually colorful I. Ershov, always as if obsessed with art; M. Steinberg, M. Chernov, V. Shcherbachev and many others. The talent, knowledge, and searching thought of these artists attracted us so much that we went to their classes not by call, not by coercion, but by a sense of inner necessity, by personal motivation. Yes, and the classes went far beyond curriculum We lived full-blooded creative life in classrooms, at concerts in the Small Hall, at performances in the Opera Studio and even in the corridors. These long corridors were inseparable from the entire spiritual life of the conservatory; here we seemed to condense our immediate, usually “restrained” by the routine of our activities, our young vital energy. And although the corridor windows look out onto a dark courtyard, they always seemed to us illuminated by the rays of the sun.”

Evgeniy Aleksandrovich leaves his job as a mime artist at the Opera and Ballet Theater, continuing to accompany him at the Leningrad Choreographic School.

The beginning of Mravinsky's conducting biography. Being extremely demanding of himself, strictly assessing his compositional works, Evgeniy Aleksandrovich, without leaving his composition studies, entered the conducting department in the class of Professor N. A. Malko (1883-1961). These classes, however, did not bring joy to either the student or the teacher. Malko, by that time a fairly experienced musician, failed to discern in Mravinsky a bright conducting talent.

The picture changed dramatically when Mravinsky, after Malko left abroad (in the summer of 1929), moved to the class of A.V. Gauk (1893-1963). Here contact between teacher and student was established immediately. Mravinsky quickly acquires technical skills and the ability to work with scores.

Despite his obvious interest in composing studies, Mravinsky composed much less than his classmates. Some chamber pieces he wrote during this period were performed at educational concerts in the Small Hall of the Conservatory. On March 4, 1929, his Suite for violin, flute and bassoon was performed at a student concert.

In search of conducting practice, Mravinsky turns to the leader of the amateur symphony orchestra of Soviet trade employees, Ya. M. Genshaft, with a request to allow him to work with the team. At first, Genshaft only allowed the student conductor to attend rehearsals; but when Genshaft suddenly fell ill, Mravinsky was assigned to conduct the rehearsal. The first meeting was followed by several more rehearsals, and then Mravinsky was given two open concerts, the program of the first of which included Andante from the 5th Symphony and Panorama from the ballet “The Sleeping Beauty” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, “Night on Bald Mountain” by Mussorgsky, Waltz fantasy by Glinka, “The Toreador and the Andalusian” by Rubinstein. Reviews that appeared in the press were very favorable. One of them belongs to I.I. Sollertinsky (magazine “Life of Art”, 1929, No. 34).

After eight years of work as an accompanist, where he proved himself excellent, in 1929 Evgeniy Aleksandrovich was entrusted with the post of head of the musical department of the Leningrad Choreographic School. He worked in this position until 1931.

On May 23, 1930, Mravinsky conducted a concert of the composition department own composition– Fragments for voice, three cellos, three trombones, bassoon and timpani.

In fact, having already left composition studies, fulfilling a state order, Evgeniy Aleksandrovich is working on rebuilding the chimes of the Peter and Paul Fortress - replacing the melody “Kol Slaven” with the initial phrase of the “Internationale”, using an old set of bells.

In the spring of 1931, Mravinsky graduated from the conservatory with a degree in conducting. In the summer he is appointed assistant conductor at the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater. However, throughout this year, Evgeniy Alexandrovich’s main occupation has become participation in ballet rehearsals as a pianist.

At the same time, Evgeniy Alexandrovich’s first meeting with the Leningrad Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra took place. The concert took place in the Recreation Garden. The program, among other things, included the overtures “Egmont” and “Leonore” (No. 3) by Beethoven, the introduction to the opera “ Sorochinskaya fair"Mussorgsky.

On September 20, 1932, the premiere of the ballet “The Sleeping Beauty” took place - the first independent work Evgeniy Aleksandrovich at the Opera and Ballet Theater (production by M. Petipa, carefully restored by F. Lopukhov). The young conductor was scheduled for only two proofreading and one general (stage) rehearsal. He conducted the latter so brightly, enthusiastically and organizedly, and showed such a creatively independent attitude to music that he unconditionally endeared himself to both the orchestra and the production team.

Since then, people began to go to The Sleeping Beauty not only to watch Ulanova and Sergeev, but also to listen to Mravinsky.

In the next six months he conducted Le Corsaire (October 1932) and Giselle (February 1933) by Adam.

In 1932-1937, Mravinsky conducted about 40 programs with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra.

According to V.S. Fomina, Mravinsky did not immediately endear himself to the orchestra. And the repertoire with which the conductor “came out” to the collective also expanded and deepened gradually. At first, the programs of Mravinsky’s philharmonic concerts were distinguished by their diversity and the predominance of small works (fragments from Wagner’s operas, works by Bizet, Frank, Glinka’s Waltz-Fantasy, Stravinsky’s Little Suite, miniatures by Liszt, Glazunov, waltzes by J. Strauss). Probably, the most important role in the selection of works was played by their themes (the programs were structured as concerts and lectures). But at the same time, they demonstrated both the breadth of their horizons and the peculiarities of the artistic taste of the conductor, who, of course, made his own wishes and adjustments to their composition. The lecturers most often were I. Sollertinsky and M. Druskin.

Mravinsky was introduced to the production team working on Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. The premiere took place on April 13, 1933 (directed by A. Vaganova).

Perhaps the most striking work of the conductor in the theater was new production"The Nutcracker". The premiere took place on February 18, 1934 (choreographer V. Vainonen).

September 28, 1934 – premiere of the ballet “The Fountain of Bakhchisarai” by Asafiev (staged by R. Zakharov). During this work, the composer, who constantly observed the activities of the young conductor, predicted his future fate: “Believe me, he will leave the theater, his destiny is symphonic music.”

In June 1935, Mravinsky became a participant in the arts festival, which was organized by Leningrad concert institutions together with Intourist.

Mravinsky staged his first opera performance - “Mazeppa” by P.I. Tchaikovsky. Premiere February 19, 1937.

On October 20, 1937, Evgeniy Alexandrovich was instructed to open a new concert season at the Leningrad Philharmonic - an honor that had previously only been awarded to the orchestra's chief conductors.

“I still can’t understand how I dared to accept such an offer without much hesitation and thought. If they did it for me now, I would think for a long time, doubt and, perhaps, in the end I would not make up my mind. After all, not only my reputation was at stake, but also - what is much more important - the fate of a new famous work composer... But I was excused by the fact that I was young and was not aware of the upcoming difficulties, but of all the responsibility that fell to my lot.”

A year later, the composer recalled it this way: “I got to know Mravinsky most closely during our joint work on my Fifth Symphony. I must admit that at first I was frightened by Mravinsky’s method. It seemed to me that he delved too much into details, paid too much attention to particulars, and it seemed to me that this would harm the overall plan, the overall plan. About every tact, about every thought, Mravinsky subjected me to a genuine interrogation, demanding from me an answer to all the doubts that arose in him. But already on the fifth day of our work together, I realized that this method was absolutely correct. I began to take my work more seriously, watching how seriously Mravinsky worked. I realized that a conductor should not sing like a nightingale. Talent must first of all be combined with long and painstaking work.”

The performance of this symphony began new stage in the creative fate of Mravinsky.

In March 1938 - participation in the decade of Russian classical music, held in Moscow. In the program of compositions by P.I. Tchaikovsky (Second Symphony, arias from operas, Variations on a Rococo Theme and Francesca da Rimini).

In the spring of this year, Mravinsky's first studio recording was made - Shostakovich's 5th Symphony.

September 1938 - victory at the 1st All-Union Conducting Competition in Moscow. The jury included S. Samosud (chairman), L. Steinberg, N. Myaskovsky, G. Neuhaus, A. Goldenweiser, A. Gauk, D. Kabalevsky, and others.

“It was felt that a real conductor had appeared on the stage, a musician endowed with great talent, armed with impeccable technique, and possessing a deep and versatile culture. And then it became clear to everyone that Mravinsky was the undisputed candidate not only for the second, but also for the third round.”

After the third round, the prizes were distributed as follows:

1st prize – E.A. Mravinsky;

2nd prize – A.Sh. Melik-Pashayev and N.G. Rakhlin;

3rd prize – K.K. Ivanov;

4th prize – not awarded;

5th prize – M.I. Powerman.

After winning the competition, an order came from the Arts Committee under the Council People's Commissars USSR on the appointment of Mravinsky as head of the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra.

On October 18, 1938, Mravinsky opened the concert season of the Philharmonic as the chief conductor of the orchestra. He performed some of the works included in the concert at the competition. On this day they performed: the overture to the opera “Theater Director” by Mozart, “Dawn on the Moscow River” by Mussorgsky, Khachaturian’s concert for piano and orchestra (soloist L. Oborin) and Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony.

In November - participation in the decade of Soviet music in Moscow.

In December - performance of Bruckner's Fourth Symphony.

The beginning of the collaboration between conductor and orchestra turned out to be difficult. The “old-timers” greeted the new leader with restraint and caution. Many veterans were put off by both Mravinsky’s age (he was perhaps the youngest member of the ensemble) and the lack of experience leading an orchestra. When Mravinsky began to introduce strict discipline from the very first steps, hidden opposition began among the orchestra members. Experienced musicians who have played with many famous conductors did not hesitate to correct Mravinsky during rehearsals, referring to authoritative names. But there were also musicians in the orchestra who believed in the new chief conductor and were ready to support him.

The first appearance in Mravinsky's programs of fragments of Wagner's operas.

Performance of Beethoven's works: Second, Fourth, Fifth and Ninth Symphonies, Fantasies for piano, choir and orchestra (with Maria Yudina).

Performance of Bruckner's Seventh Symphony.

In May - a tour during the ten-day period of Leningrad art in Moscow. The orchestra performed in Moscow for the first time. Of the five concerts, three were conducted by Mravinsky, one by N. Rabinovich and one by K. Eliasberg.

“It has been a long time since the capital of the Soviet Union has heard orchestral playing so perfect from all points of view,” wrote Leo Ginzburg.

The tour to Moscow was the result of the hard work of the Leningraders and clearly showed that the orchestra, having retained the excellent creative charge of previous years, had reached a new quality and entered a period of new, perhaps unprecedented, prosperity in its entire history.

Performance of Bruckner's Ninth Symphony.

1938-1940 - a festival held by an orchestra on collective farms Leningrad region, summer trips to Kislovodsk.

March 13, 1941 - first performance of Mozart's Fortieth Symphony. According to press reviews, he “played interestingly,” but in other works of Mozart (instrumental concertos and opera overtures), critics at that time often spoke about the “heaviness” of sonority, about “excessive severity” and “coldness” of performance. Mravinsky came to “his” Mozart after long, painstaking work already in the 50s.

In the spring of 1941, Evgeniy Alexandrovich attended rehearsals and concerts of Leo Blech, who was touring in Leningrad.

Speaking in May 1941 at the next conference of listeners, the artistic director of the Philharmonic I. Sollertinsky said: “Mravinsky did a titanic job. He, in his role as chief conductor, had to take on the entire monumental and the rest of the world's symphonic repertoire. He was supposed to conduct Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Berlioz. He had to master both Mahler and Bruckner. He has the honor of conducting Shostakovich's Fifth and Sixth Symphonies. I will say without exaggeration: any other conductor of lesser stature would have broken under this unbearable burden, and we, musicians, Mravinsky’s friends, more than once had doubts: whether he would pay with meningitis, taking on the repertoire, which until now had been divided among first-class Western European conductors. But to Mravinsky’s credit (I say this as a musician, and not as the artistic director of the Philharmonic), he came out of this test - truly a test by fire - brilliantly.”

Already in June, many of the orchestra's artists became part of the concert brigades to serve the ships of the Baltic Fleet and the assembly points of military units.

In July, performances by the band's musicians took place mainly on the Leningrad Front, recruiting stations, and in hospitals. Most of the orchestra members participated in the construction of defense facilities and bomb shelters. Some joined the people's militia.

In August, according to a government decision, the orchestra was evacuated to the rear. The team left hometown, when the enemy blockade was already closing around Leningrad.

On September 4, after almost two weeks of travel (the train in which the musicians were traveling often ended up in areas of enemy aircraft), the orchestra arrived in Novosibirsk. At first they settled in one of the waiting rooms of the Novosibirsk railway station, but the very next day, without completing the unloading of things, the orchestra soloists began performing in military units and hospitals. There was a period when the need for the orchestra to operate wartime was questioned. However, the leadership of the Philharmonic and local public organizations entered the All-Union Committee on Arts with a petition, and the issue was resolved positively.

The problem of the repertoire also caused great debate. At first, many believed that in a city that did not yet have its own symphony orchestra, the performances of Leningraders would not attract the public and, at best, only popular and easy-to-understand music could be played here. But Mravinsky categorically opposed this. And already at the end of 1941, symphony concerts attracted such a large audience that it was decided to organize special symphony cycles at the House of the Red Army and the Club of the Plant named after. Chkalova. In addition, the orchestra constantly participated in radio broadcasts.

In the late autumn of 1943, Evgeniy Alexandrovich went to Moscow to work on a new one, Shostakovich’s Eighth Symphony. The first performances took place on November 3, 4, 10 and 19, 1943 in Moscow with the participation of the USSR State Orchestra. During rehearsals, the author, captivated by the work of Evgeniy Alexandrovich, forever associated his brainchild with the name of the conductor, dedicating the Eighth Symphony to him.

At the same time, he takes part in the anniversary session dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Tchaikovsky’s death; a series of concerts dedicated to this date opened with a performance by Mravinsky with the State Symphony Orchestra of the USSR.

During the same period, Mravinsky worked a lot with Myaskovsky on the score of his Twenty-fourth Symphony.

On February 16, 1944, the premiere of Myaskovsky’s Twenty-fourth Symphony took place in Novosibirsk.

On May 16, 1944, in Novosibirsk, Evgeniy Aleksandrovich performed Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony for the first time.

In August 1944, the extensive series of farewell concerts announced by the Philharmonic ended; in early September 1944, the orchestra returned to Leningrad.

In total, during their stay in Novosibirsk, the team held 56 traveling concerts (including Omsk, Tomsk, Barnaul, the cities of Kuzbass, Tashkent, Fergana).

Soon after the Leningraders left, they opened opera house, Philharmonic, music school (and later the conservatory).

Upon returning to Leningrad, some of the musicians retired; those members who remained in Leningrad throughout the siege period or were in Tashkent with the conservatory again came to the orchestra; several orchestra members, having been demobilized from the Red Army, returned to their previous jobs; The team was replenished with students from the country's music universities.

The band officially announced the first concerts in Leningrad as reports, thereby wanting to demonstrate the results of three years of hard work in Siberia.

On November 11, 1944, Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony was performed, and less than a month later, the Eighth Symphony. Following this, Myaskovsky’s Twenty-fourth Symphony is heard in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic. At the same time, Mravinsky presented to Leningrad listeners three works that later became his significant performing achievements - Beethoven's Third Symphony, Brahms's First and Schubert's Unfinished.

In February 1945, Mravinsky for the first time turned to two works by Ravel: one of them - a piano concerto (played by A.D. Kamensky) - was no longer found in the conductor's programs; another, on the contrary, Mravinsky willingly repeated later - the famous Bolero.

In the same season, Mravinsky performed all of Schumann’s music for Byron’s “Manfred”; he did not return to this score, as well as to Schumann’s other works... In the very last days of the season, when the country celebrated great Victory, the conductor performed - for the first time in Leningrad - one of the most significant works of that time - Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony.

On November 3 and 4, Mravinsky premiered Shostakovich's new Ninth Symphony. On November 20 and 22, the Ninth Symphony was first performed in Moscow by the USSR State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mravinsky. The ninth became the only one of Shostakovich’s symphonies that the conductor never played again after the premiere.

At the beginning of this year, Evgeniy Alexandrovich played the music of Stravinsky’s ballet “Petrushka” for the first time.

In February-March, the orchestra led by Mravinsky (second conductor K. Sanderling) toured Finland. During the tour, Mravinsky, Sanderling and Barinova had the opportunity to visit Jean Sibelius in his country house, from which he almost never left since the late 20s. The meeting with him made an indelible impression on our musicians.

In June, at the anniversary festival dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Prague Philharmonic, Mravinsky conducts two concerts with its famous symphony orchestra. Both programs include Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony and Prokofiev's Second Suite from Romeo and Juliet. In addition, in these concerts he accompanied D. Oistrakh and L. Oborin.

In the same year, the merits of Evgeniy Alexandrovich were twice noted by the government: in the spring he was awarded the honorary title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR, and at the end of the year he was awarded the USSR State Prize 1st degree for the achievements of recent years in the field of concert and performing activities.

In May, Evgeniy Aleksandrovich again travels to Prague alone. He conditioned his participation on the mandatory inclusion in the festival program of Shostakovich's Eighth Symphony, which had recently been extremely unsuccessfully performed in Prague by a local conductor. Mravinsky's performance of the composition was highly appreciated by Prague listeners and the press.

Both of these trips to Prague became the only “sole” foreign performances in Mravinsky’s practice; both before and subsequently, the conductor traveled abroad only with his orchestra.

On November 11 and 12, Prokofiev, whose premieres of symphonic works usually took place in Moscow, entrusted the Leningrad orchestra and its leader with the first performance of his new, Sixth Symphony. On December 25, the symphony was performed in Moscow. For a long time after this, Mravinsky remained the only performer of the Sixth Symphony.

During 1947-1951, the orchestra, in addition to regular summer trips to the Riga seaside, held successful performances in Estonia and Lithuania.

On December 6, the orchestra under the direction of Mravinsky played for the first time since the war in the workshop of the Elektrosila plant.

In May, Mravinsky performs for the first time the symphony in D major by the Czech composer of the early 18th century, Frantisek Mici, which he brought from Prague and recently discovered.

Mravinsky carries out painstaking and thorough work on dubbing feature film“Glinka” (director G. Alexandrov). In the same year, on December 28, he performed for the first time the Second Symphony of S. Lyapunov, forgotten until then.

On January 18, Evgeniy Aleksandrovich revives V. Kalinnikov’s Second Symphony on the concert stage for the first time after many years of oblivion; February 27 – First Symphony by M. Balakirev.

On October 22 a concert took place, dedicated to memory Sergei Prokofiev. The program included excerpts from the ballet Romeo and Juliet, the Fifth Symphony and the First Piano Concerto (soloist S. Richter).

On November 22, the premiere of the First Symphony of the Leningrad composer V. Salmanov took place. Subsequently, the conductor and the Honored Ensemble of the Republic became the first performers of all four symphonies of this author.

On December 17 and 18, the premiere of Shostakovich's Tenth Symphony took place in the Great Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonic. On December 29 and 30, the symphony was performed in Moscow by the USSR State Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Mravinsky.

For his services to the development of Soviet musical art, Mravinsky was awarded the honorary title of People's Artist of the USSR.

In the same year, the orchestra went on tour to Moscow for the first time since the war. Under the direction of Mravinsky and Sanderling, the group performed 6 programs (a total of 8 concerts were given); Mravinsky's concerts featured works by Mozart, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich.

The orchestra was invited to Czechoslovakia by the organizing committee of the Prague Spring festival. This was the second trip abroad in the orchestra's history. In addition to the capital, Leningraders performed in Bratislava, Brno and Ostrava. In addition to Mravinsky, K. Sanderling, as always in those years, took part in the tour.

October 29 – first performance of Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto by David Oistrakh and the Honored Ensemble under Mravinsky; it was one of best works orchestra and its leader in those years.

In 1954-55, Mravinsky often turned to Wagner's programs, to Mozart's 39th symphony, Beethoven's Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh, two nocturnes by Debussy, and Ravel's Bolero. Of Bruckner's symphonies, the Seventh was resumed during these years. In December 1955, the conductor returned to the only Mahlerian score in his repertoire - the Fifth Symphony (since then it was no longer performed by Mravinsky), and also resumed Glazunov's Fourth. Of Shostakovich's symphonies during these years, only two are constantly played - the Sixth and Tenth.

In the summer, Leningrad musicians perform in the cities of the GDR, West Germany, Switzerland and Austria (an enthusiastic review of the orchestra with the very revealing title “Light from the East” was published in Hamburg). In Switzerland, the concerts were attended by the largest foreign musicians - Otto Klemperer, Jascha Heifetz, Nathan Milstein, Andres Segovia.

In Vienna, with three concerts, Leningraders completed the international Mozart festival dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of the great Austrian composer. This festival was attended by prominent European orchestras and conductors such as Bruno Walter, Karl Böhm, Herbert von Karajan, E. Van Beinum, J. Krips, E. Mainardi. The success of the Leningraders, unexpected for many foreign musicians, and their unconditional victory were noted by all Viennese reviews without exception.

“Shortly before its end, the festival reached a climax that exceeded our wildest expectations. The Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra... This is a group of the highest class, and we do not hesitate to award it the palm. Of all the famous foreign bands that we have heard over the past lately, Leningrad - the most perfect, the most magnificent. Evgeny Mravinsky is a great master and teacher of this orchestra,” wrote the newspaper Neues Oesterreich on June 23, 1956.

Since then, Vienna has not let Mravinsky and his orchestra out of its “field of sight”. They are always the most welcome guests in the famous Musikverein hall. In 1960-1982, the Leningrad orchestra and its chief conductor came to Vienna 8 times.

On September 25, Mravinsky and the Honored Team performed a program dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the birth of D.D. Shostakovich; The Festive Overture and the composer's Sixth and Fifth symphonies were performed with great success.

At the festival of Soviet music, organized by the Philharmonic for the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution, Mravinsky performed Shostakovich's Eleventh Symphony for the first time. The work, which was soon awarded the Lenin Prize, immediately became firmly established in the repertoire of the orchestra and its chief conductor. The official premiere of the new work took place 4 days earlier in Moscow - under the direction of Nathan Rakhlin.

In September, a tour took place in the Polish People's Republic, the main goal of which was the participation of the group in the Leningrad festival "Warsaw Autumn".

This year the orchestra tour took place in seven countries (Great Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Switzerland and Austria - a record number for one trip), in which the Honored Ensemble gave 34 concerts. Among the most significant events of this tour are an impressive victory at the famous Edinburgh Festival, and the huge success of Shostakovich's Eighth Symphony in Paris, performed in the presence of the author.

In March – the premiere of V. Salmanov’s Second Symphony.

In February, a trip to Moscow took place, where the ensemble held 3 concerts under the direction of the chief conductor.

Mravinsky, the first Soviet conductor, was awarded the Lenin Prize.

Tours in the cities of the Leningrad region - Volkhov and Slantsy.

In May-June, the orchestra led by Mravinsky toured Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

In October, the premiere of Shostakovich's Twelfth Symphony took place. The symphony was soon recorded, and this recording turned out to be Mravinsky's last recording made in the studio. This symphony turned out to be last work, recorded in a recording performed by Evgeniy Alexandrovich (in 1984).

In November, Mravinsky was the first in the USSR to perform Arthur Honegger's Third (“Liturgical”) Symphony (November 1961).

At the beginning of the year there was a tour in Hungary (particular success was achieved by Bartók’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, specially prepared for this tour).

Tours in Kyiv.

In April - performance of the Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss.

At the end of the year, the orchestra made a month and a half tour, one of the most important and difficult, performing in cities in the USA and Canada. The tour was an exceptional success (even events in the Caribbean, which significantly worsened relations between the USSR and the USA during this period, could not prevent it). The Fifth Symphony and Violin Concerto by Tchaikovsky (soloist - David Oistrakh), the Fifth, Eighth and Twelfth by Shostakovich, the Fourth by Brahms, Music for strings, percussion and celesta by Bartok, works by Glinka, Mozart, Debussy were performed.

“Another point of pride that he has Soviet Union, was demonstrated yesterday to the thunderous applause of a full hall,” wrote the New York World Telegram and Sun newspaper. “It was the Leningrad Symphony Orchestra - an ensemble so adored by record lovers, especially in connection with the recordings of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies conducted by Mravinsky. Neither he nor the orchestra could have been received more hospitably.”

For the first time in the USSR - performance of Paul Hindemith's symphony "Harmony of the World" (January 1964), music of Igor Stravinsky's ballet "Apollo Musagete" (October 1964), Music for strings, percussion and celesta by Bela Bartok (December 1964).

In November Sibelius's Seventh Symphony was performed.

In February, Mravinsky held 4 concerts with his band in Moscow. Perhaps the most important achievement of these tours was Mravinsky’s truly wise reading of a whole cohort of outstanding modern works, none of which was not only in the repertoire in those years, but even quite familiar to the public.

“They came down to the listeners clear, perfect, alive; still few famous works great artists of the twentieth century. They came out as they really were, but as many did not imagine them to be. Look, classic! – as if they told us.”

All works performed by Mravinsky on these tours were recorded during the concerts and were then included in the famous set of recordings “Evgeny Mravinsky Conducts”.

In October – performance of music from I. Stravinsky’s ballets “Agon” (for the first time in the USSR) and “The Fairy’s Kiss”.

At the end of the year, the orchestra visited Moscow again: it was one of the main participants in the decade of Leningrad musical art.

Resumption of Glazunov's Fourth Symphony and suite from Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Tale of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia".

Tour in Vienna (October) and subsequent tour of 11 largest cities in Italy.

In May-June - tours in Czechoslovakia, Switzerland and France.

Resumption of Brahms's Fourth Symphony and Glazunov's Fifth Symphony.

In May-June, the orchestra led by Mravinsky traveled to Moscow and the largest cities of Siberia (Chelyabinsk, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Tomsk and Omsk). The orchestra visited almost all of these cities during the Great Patriotic War. Therefore, meetings with listeners here were especially exciting and festive.

In the fall - a trip to festivals of Russian and Soviet music in Poland and Romania.

April 22 – the day of the 100th anniversary of V.I. Lenina - Mravinsky and the orchestra performed in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic, performing Shostakovich's Twelfth Symphony and Tchaikovsky's Fifth. A few days later, the Leningrad orchestra and its chief conductor played the same program in Ulyanovsk, in the Great Hall shortly before the opening of the Lenin Memorial Center.

The orchestra tours in the GDR to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. In this regard, the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth symphonies of the great composer have been resumed. The honored ensemble led by Mravinsky was the only foreign orchestra to take part in the Beethoven anniversary celebrations. The orchestra gave 8 concerts in Dresden, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Erfurt, Jena, Gera, ending the tour with a gala concert in Berlin.

“This orchestra is one of the best, perhaps even the best orchestra in the world. Evgeny Mravinsky, who has been conducting it for 32 years, is one of the greatest conductors of our time,” wrote the Volksstimme newspaper.

In November and December, several concerts were held dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Leningrad Philharmonic.

January – tour in Moscow. In connection with the anniversary of the first Soviet Philharmonic, the Honored Ensemble of the Republic - the first of the country's symphony orchestras - was awarded the honorary title "academic".

The Moscow tour of 1972 became one of the most striking pages in the orchestra’s activities over the years. In four concerts, Mravinsky performed music by Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Beethoven, Brahms, and Wagner.

“Famous works. And at the same time – a never-ending feeling of novelty! – wrote Andrey Zolotov. – You remain impressed by the truth of everything that happens and is expressed in the music. Suddenly the inner structure of music opens up. Convention work of art appears as the highest generalization of reality.”

On May 5 and 6, the Leningrad premiere of Shostakovich’s last, Fifteenth Symphony took place in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic in the presence of the author. Dmitry Dmitrievich himself arrived in Leningrad in advance, was at all rehearsals, worked a lot with Mravinsky, sometimes even made amendments to the score.

In the fall, Leningraders held 33 concerts in the cities of Germany, Austria and Italy. After a concert in Munich, in which Mravinsky performed the Fourth Symphonies of Beethoven and Brahms, one of the newspapers wrote that this performance was “instructive for the Germans.”

“Even in his furious rapture, Mravinsky does not allow himself a single spontaneous, uncontrolled gesture. Obviously, the work happens in rehearsals. This must be a Herculean task. The result of this preparatory work sometimes takes your breath away...,” wrote the Hamburg newspaper “Die Welt” on October 5, 1972.

On June 4, on his 70th birthday, Mravinsky was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. On this day, he and the orchestra were on tour in Japan, which was an exceptional success.

On August 9, Dmitry Dmitrievich Shostakovich died. On October 24 and 25, Mravinsky and the Honored Ensemble held concerts in the Great Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonic dedicated to the memory of the composer. The program included Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony and Tchaikovsky's Sixth.

“I had the great fortune of becoming the first performer, and therefore the first commentator, of many of Shostakovich’s works,” recalled Evgeniy Aleksandrovich on the days of the composer’s 70th birthday, “and if I could bring this conductor’s commentary, the performing interpretation of his works as close as possible to the author’s intention, then I can only explain this by the fact that we both lived on the same land, in the same country, in the same spiritual atmosphere. And therefore everything that he created, which is reflected in his music, is close to my heart. This “closeness of the plot, the closeness of the reflection” has always facilitated my work on his music. There were no specifically musical difficulties, which I often encountered when working on the works of other authors. It was as if something was opening up before me that I myself had known for a long time, experienced, but could not express. All I had to do was mobilize all my strength, and it seemed that there was always not enough of it to successfully fulfill what he had created... As this often accompanies true friendship, we understood each other perfectly. Perhaps that is why we communicated relatively little, rarely argued and did not meet very often. The war separated us for several years, and I remember with particular warmth those relatively rare days when destinies collided with us at the House of Composers in the village of Repino, not far from Leningrad, or at the Philharmonic - at rehearsals of his works. During rehearsals, conversation is limited to business-like remarks. In Repino we didn’t talk about music, and these were perhaps the most pleasant hours. I remember the days of our meetings as great joy and great happiness. Not everyone has such happiness.”

Touring in Japan.

At the beginning of January, a special Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR “On perpetuating the memory of D.D.” was adopted. Shostakovich"; one of its main points meant: to assign the name to D.D. Shostakovich Leningrad State Philharmonic.

For Mravinsky and his orchestra, 1976 became “the year of Shostakovich.” An outstanding event was the cycle of concerts conceived and carried out by Mravinsky dedicated to the music of the great symphonist: from January to April, the Honored Ensemble and its chief conductor performed the composer’s Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Tenth and Fifteenth Symphonies (the Fourteenth Symphony, played by Leningradsky, was also performed chamber orchestra, consisting of musicians from the Honored Ensemble), as well as the First Violin Concerto (soloist V. Lieberman).

On September 25, on the composer’s 70th birthday, the Honored Ensemble and Mravinsky again performed the Sixth and Fifth Symphonies.

In January, Mravinsky premiered Salmanov's last, Fourth Symphony (the composer died a year later). The author dedicated the last symphony to the Leningrad orchestra and its leader, who were the first performers of all four of his symphonies.

In the same year, Evgeniy Alexandrovich was awarded the Arthur Nikisch Prize, established in Leipzig in 1956. Mravinsky became the first foreign musician, who received this honorary award: before him, the award named after. Nikisha was awarded exclusively to representatives of the German musical culture(O. Klemperer, B. Walter, K. Mazur, etc.) As stated in the decision of the Leipzig City Council, Mravinsky was awarded this prize “in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of musical culture, serving to deepen friendship between the USSR and the GDR.”

Touring in Japan.

In January, Evgeniy Alexandrovich received news from Vienna that he had been elected an honorary member of the Society of Friends of Music, the list of which was opened in 1826 by Beethoven, Weber, Spohr and Rossini.

On June 14, a ceremony to present Mravinsky with this diploma took place in Vienna. The speech he delivered during the ceremony was both harmonious and unexpected: having started it in Russian, Evgeniy Alexandrovich switched to German with such naturalness and grace (while talking about his meeting with Bruno Walter), which aroused the admiration of all those present.

This was during the period of concerts by Mravinsky and his orchestra in Vienna. The beginning of the tour was Milan, where Leningraders performed at a festival in honor of the 200th anniversary of the famous La Scala theater. Then concerts took place in Venice, Bologna, Florence and other cities in Italy.

During his stay in Florence, on the day of his 75th anniversary, a Decree was issued by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on awarding Evgeniy Alexandrovich the Order of Friendship of Peoples.

Touring in Japan (the last trip to this country was the 6th in a row for Leningraders).

Tours to Austria, Switzerland, Germany.

On September 25, on the day of Shostakovich’s 75th birthday, Mravinsky again, as in previous anniversary concerts composer, performed the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies. The conductor also resumed several other Soviet works - Salmanov's Second Symphony, the Sixth Symphony with the second suite from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. Mravinsky also returned to his two permanent Mozart symphonies - Nos. 33 and 39, to the works of Tchaikovsky.

On December 31, a concert took place in the Great Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonic, in which the Honored Ensemble, under the direction of its leader, performed ballet music by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. The success, as always, was enormous. The conductor was called to the stage again and again. Unexpectedly, Mravinsky stopped the applause and, for the only time in his many years of concert activity, ended the evening... with an address to the audience. He warmly congratulated the audience on the New Year and, almost without any transition, started talking about the orchestra. It was laconic, but expressive Ode To the honored team. Moreover, the conductor proudly stated that he is one of the oldest listeners of the orchestra, that he owes a lot to this group.

In the summer, the Leningrad Philharmonic members, led by Mravinsky, visited 5 European countries - Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and Spain (this was the 33rd foreign trip of the Honored Ensemble).

The Leningraders had particular success, exceeding all expectations, in Spain. Mravinsky's concerts in Madrid and Granada became events about which, as one newspaper wrote, “They will talk and remember for a long time.” The reviews from the Spanish press turned out to be perhaps the most vivid and impressive among the hundreds of reviews written about the Honored Team over the past 10-15 years.

“The concert of Evgeny Mravinsky was not only an extraordinary concert. True music lovers argued that it was something more, namely, we witnessed a special, rare phenomenon, a unique artistic performance... We have all seen orchestras that do not meet their main task, and conductors who only beat out the rhythm, allowing the orchestra itself to lead. With Evgeny Mravinsky, the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra is truly an instrument in the hands of a virtuoso, almost an extension of his body, his hands. There is no external pump, but there is practically no voltage. Without a baton, sitting on a stool, sometimes touching the score with his left hand, the 79-year-old maestro leads the orchestra with a glance, a barely noticeable movement of his hand or even a wrist, and the music flows, perfect and deep. This is the result not of just rehearsals, but of an entire artistic career, or better yet, a lifetime,” wrote the Madrid newspaper Pais.

Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the Honored Team led by Mravinsky came to Moscow, where they performed works by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, and Beethoven. The most revealing thing was the very beginning of the tour, or rather even the run-up to the first concert:

“It’s been a long time since we saw the audience, which filled the Great Hall of the Conservatory to capacity, moved by a single feeling of deep respect and sincere admiration, unanimously rise from their seats and standing greeted the conductor who appeared on the stage.”

March 19 and April 8 took place holiday concerts dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the orchestra. In connection with the anniversary, the orchestra’s services were awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor. In these concerts, Evgeniy Alexandrovich conducted works by Glinka, Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky.

Latest foreign tours. Performance of the Fifth and Fifteenth Symphonies at the Shostakovich Festival in Duisburg (Germany).

April 29 - Mravinsky's last recording (Shostakovich's Twelfth Symphony in Leningrad). In addition to this, Tchaikovsky's Fifth was performed in the concert.

November 20 (Mravinsky’s penultimate concert) – Wagner’s “monograph” in the Great Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonic: Part I - Overture to “Die Meistersinger of Nuremberg”, “Rustle of the Forest” from musical drama"Siegfried", Wotan's Farewell and the Spell of Fire from "Valkyrie"; Part II – “Siegfried’s Journey along the Rhine”, Funeral March from “Twilight of the Gods”, Ride of the Valkyries.

March 6 – Mravinsky’s last concert in the Great Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonic: Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony and Brahms’ Fourth Symphony.

On the Day of Epiphany, January 19, 1988, at 19:30, Evgeniy Aleksandrovich Mravinsky died at home in Leningrad. He was buried at the Bogoslovskoe cemetery.

People's Artist of the USSR (1954). Winner of the Lenin Prize (1961). Hero of Socialist Labor (1973).

The life and work of one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century are inextricably linked with Leningrad. He grew up in a musical family, but after graduating from labor school (1920) he entered the natural sciences department of Leningrad University. By that time, however, the young man was already associated with musical theater. The need to earn money brought him to the stage of the former Mariinsky Theater, where he worked as a mime artist. This very boring activity, meanwhile, allowed Mravinsky to expand his artistic horizons and gain vivid impressions from direct communication with such masters as singers F. Chaliapin, I. Ershov, I. Tartakov, conductors A. Coates, E. Cooper and others. In his further creative practice, the experience he acquired while working as a pianist at the Leningrad Choreographic School, where Mravinsky entered in 1921, served him well. By this time, he had already parted with the university, deciding to devote himself to professional musical activity.

The first attempt to enter the conservatory was unsuccessful. In order not to waste time, Mravinsky enrolled in the training classes of the Leningrad Academic Chapel. His student years began the following year, 1924. He takes courses in harmony and instrumentation with M. Chernov, polyphony with Kh. Kushnarev, and form and practical composition with V. Shcherbachev. Several works by the aspiring composer were then performed in the Small Hall of the Conservatory. Nevertheless, the self-critical Mravinsky is already looking for himself in a different field - in 1927 he began conducting classes under the direction of N. Malko, and two years later A. Gauk became his teacher.

Striving for practical mastery of conducting skills, Mravinsky devoted some time to working with the amateur symphony orchestra of the Union of Soviet Trade Servants. First public speaking with this group they included works by Russian composers and earned favorable reviews from the press. At the same time, Mravinsky was in charge of the musical part of the choreographic school and conducted Glazunov’s ballet “The Seasons” here. In addition, he completed an internship at the Opera Studio of the Conservatory. The next stage of Mravinsky’s creative development is associated with his work at the Opera and Ballet Theater named after S.M. Kirov (1931-1938). At first he was an assistant conductor here, and a year later he received his independent debut. It was September 20, 1932. The ballet “The Sleeping Beauty” was performed under the direction of Mravinsky with the participation of G. Ulanova. The conductor had his first great success, which was consolidated by his next works - Tchaikovsky's ballets " Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker", Adana "Corsair" and "Giselle", B. Asafieva "Bakhchisarai Fountain" and "Lost Illusions". Finally, here the listeners became acquainted with the only opera performance Mravinsky - “Mazeppa” by Tchaikovsky. So it seemed talented musician finally chose the path of theater conducting.

The All-Union Conducting Competition of 1938 opened a new magnificent page in creative biography artist. By this time, Mravinsky had already accumulated considerable experience in symphony concerts of the Leningrad Philharmonic. Particularly important was his meeting with the work of D. Shostakovich during the decade of Soviet music in 1937. Then the Fifth Symphony was performed for the first time outstanding composer. Shostakovich later wrote: “I got to know Mravinsky most closely during our joint work on my Fifth Symphony. I must admit that at first I was somewhat frightened by Mravinsky’s method. It seemed to me that he delved too much into details, paid too much attention to particulars, and it seemed to me that this would harm the overall plan, the overall plan. About every tact, about every thought, Mravinsky subjected me to a genuine interrogation, demanding from me an answer to all the doubts that arose in him. But already on the fifth day of working together, I realized that this method was absolutely correct. I began to take my work more seriously, watching how seriously Mravinsky worked. I realized that a conductor should not sing like a nightingale. Talent must first of all be combined with long and painstaking work.”

Mravinsky's performance of the Fifth Symphony was one of the highlights of the competition. The conductor from Leningrad was awarded the first prize. This event largely determined the fate of Mravinsky - he became the chief conductor of the Leningrad Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra - now an honored ensemble of the republic. Since then, no noticeable external events have occurred in Mravinsky’s life. Year after year he nurtures the orchestra he leads and expands its repertoire. Honing his skills, Mravinsky gives magnificent interpretations of the symphonies of Tchaikovsky, works of Beethoven, Berlioz, Wagner, Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler and other composers.

The peaceful life of the orchestra was interrupted in 1941, when, by government decree, the Leningrad Philharmonic was evacuated to the east and opened its next season in Novosibirsk. In those years, Russian music occupied a particularly significant place in the conductor's programs. Along with Tchaikovsky, he performed works by Glinka, Borodin, Glazunov, Lyadov... In Novosibirsk the Philharmonic gave 538 symphony concerts, which was attended by 400 thousand people...

Reaches its highest blossoming creative activity Mravinsky after the orchestra returned to Leningrad. As before, the conductor performs at the Philharmonic with rich and varied programs. An excellent interpreter is found in him best works Soviet composers. According to musicologist V. Bogdanov-Berezovsky, “Mravinsky developed his own individual style of performance, which is characterized by a close fusion of emotional and intellectual principles, temperamental storytelling and a balanced logic of the overall performance plan, primarily in the performance Soviet works, to the propaganda of which he gave and gives a lot of attention.”

In Mravinsky’s interpretation, many creations of Soviet authors were heard for the first time, including those included in the golden fund of our musical classics The Sixth Symphony of S. Prokofiev, the Symphony-poem of A. Khachaturian and, above all, the outstanding creations of D. Shostakovich. Shostakovich entrusted Mravinsky with the first performance of his Fifth, Sixth, Eighth (dedicated to the conductor), Ninth and Tenth symphonies, and the oratorio “Song of the Forests”. It is characteristic that, speaking about the Seventh Symphony, the author emphasized in 1942: “In our country, the symphony was performed in many cities. Muscovites listened to it several times under the direction of S. Samosud. In Frunze and Alma-Ata, the symphony was performed by the State Symphony Orchestra, directed by N. Rakhlin. I am deeply grateful to Soviet and foreign conductors for the love and attention they showed to my symphony. But it sounded closest to me as the author when it was performed by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Evgeny Mravinsky.”

There is no doubt that it was under the leadership of Mravinsky that the Leningrad Orchestra grew into a world-class symphony ensemble. This is the result of the conductor’s tireless work, his indefatigable desire to search for new, most profound and accurate readings musical works. G. Rozhdestvensky writes: “Mravinsky is equally demanding of himself and of the orchestra. During joint tours, when I had to hear the same works many times over a relatively short period of time, I was always amazed at Evgeniy Aleksandrovich’s ability not to lose the feeling of their freshness after repeated repetition. Each concert is a premiere; before each concert everything must be rehearsed again. And how difficult it can be sometimes!”

IN post-war years Mravinsky received international recognition. As a rule, the conductor goes on foreign tours together with the orchestra he leads. Only in 1946 and 1947 was he a guest of the Prague Spring, where he performed with Czechoslovak orchestras. The Leningrad Philharmonic performed with triumphant success in Finland (1946), Czechoslovakia (1955), Western European countries (1956, 1960, 1966), and the United States of America (1962). Crowded halls, applause from the public, enthusiastic reviews - all this is recognition of the first-class skill of the Leningrad Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and its chief conductor Evgeniy Aleksandrovich Mravinsky. Also received well-deserved recognition pedagogical activity Mravinsky - professor at the Leningrad Conservatory.

L. Grigoriev, J. Platek, 1969