Temirkanov
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Yuri Khatuevich Temirkanov (; ; 10 December 1938 – 2 November 2023) was a Soviet and Russian conductor, named a
People's Artist of the USSR People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union. The term is confusingly used to translate two Russian language titles: Народный арти ...
.


Early life

Born in 1938 in the
North Caucasus The North Caucasus, or Ciscaucasia, is a subregion in Eastern Europe governed by Russia. It constitutes the northern part of the wider Caucasus region, which separates Europe and Asia. The North Caucasus is bordered by the Sea of Azov and the B ...
city of
Nalchik Nalchik (, ; ; ) is the capital city of Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia, situated at an altitude of in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains; about northwest of Beslan (Beslan is in the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania). It covers an area of ...
, Temirkanov attended the
Leningrad Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...
School for Talented Children where he continued his studies in
violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...
and
viola The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...
. His older brother was also a conductor.


Career

In 1968, he was appointed Principal Conductor of the then-renamed Leningrad Symphony where he remained until his appointment as Music Director of the Kirov Opera and Ballet in 1976. Temirkanov was the first Soviet artist permitted to perform in the United States after cultural relations were resumed with the Soviet Union at the end of the
Soviet–Afghan War The Soviet–Afghan War took place in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan from December 1979 to February 1989. Marking the beginning of the 46-year-long Afghan conflict, it saw the Soviet Union and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic o ...
in 1988. Temirkanov became artistic director and chief conductor of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic in 1988. He was music director of the
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore SO has its principal residence at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, where it performs more than 130 concerts a year. In 2005, ...
from 2000 until 2006. He served as principal guest conductor of the
Danish National Symphony Orchestra The Danish National Symphony Orchestra (DNSO; ), is a Danish orchestra based in Copenhagen. The DNSO is the principal orchestra of DR (Danish Broadcasting Corporation). The DRSO is based at the Koncerthuset () concert hall in Copenhagen. Histo ...
and conductor laureate of the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London, England. The RPO was established by Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days, the orchestra secured profitable recording contracts and important engagemen ...
in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. In 2015, the Teatro La Fenice awarded Temirkanov its prize 'A Life for Music' (unofficially known as the Nobel Prize for Musicians).


Death

Yuri Temirkanov died on 2 November 2023, at the age of 84.


Controversy

Temirkanov drew attention for saying that women are essentially weak and thus not well suited to be classical conductors. In a 2016 interview, he stated: : "Yes, women can be conductors. I am not against them conducting. But I simply don't like it."


Honors and awards

*
State Prize of the Russian Federation The State Prize of the Russian Federation, officially translated in Russia as Russian Federation National Award, is a state honorary prize established in 1992 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. In 2004 the rules for selection of laureates ...
in Literature and Art in 1998 (4 June 1999) – for concert programs 1995–1998 Academic Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Society named after Shostakovich *Russian Federation President Prize in Literature and Art in 2002 (13 February 2003) *The 6432 Temirkanov asteroid was named after the conductor (1975) *
Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese honors system, Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge feat ...
, 3rd Class, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (2015)


Gallery

File:Yuri Temirkanov and Vladimir Putin - 14 December 2013 - 2.jpg, Yuri Temirkanov and
Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...
at a gala concert dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the conductor (December 14, 2013) File:Юрий Темирканов Израиль.jpg, Performing in Israel (2018) File:Темирканов.jpg, Awarding of the
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" The Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" () is a state decoration of the Russian Federation. It was instituted on 2 March 1994 by Presidential Decree 442. Until the re-establishment of the Order of St. Andrew in 1998, it was the highest order of ...
, 1st degree (2009) File:Award ceremonies (2018-06-12) 17.jpg, Awarding of the
State Prize of the Russian Federation The State Prize of the Russian Federation, officially translated in Russia as Russian Federation National Award, is a state honorary prize established in 1992 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. In 2004 the rules for selection of laureates ...
(June 12, 2018)


References


External links


Interview with Yuri Temirkanov
July 17, 1997 * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Temirkanov, Yuri 1938 births 2023 deaths 20th-century Russian conductors (music) 20th-century Russian male musicians 20th-century violists 21st-century Russian classical musicians 21st-century Russian conductors (music) 21st-century Russian male musicians 21st-century violists Musicians from Nalchik Circassian people of Russia Honored Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the USSR Full Cavaliers of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" Glinka State Prize of the RSFSR winners Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd class Recipients of the USSR State Prize State Prize of the Russian Federation laureates Russian classical violists Russian male conductors (music) Soviet classical violists Soviet conductors (music) Saint Petersburg Conservatory alumni Principal conductors of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Music directors of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Chief conductors of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra