Book Description

The last of a long line of distinguished Russian aristocrats, Yevgeny Mravinsky emerges from the 20th Century musical scene as a noble conductor and exceptional treasure of Soviet culture. His friendship of some forty years with Dmitri Shostakovich led to the opening of that composer's music to the Soviet public in spite of the State's condemnation of Shostakovich's work in the influential newspaper Pravda. His associations with many other prominent musicians were instrumental in bringing their works into the Soviet consciousness. In these pages, the family history, major formative life events, and the many musical accomplishments of Mravinsky are chronicled, revealing an introverted musician who put all his feelings into his interpretation of the scores he conducted. It was Mravinsky who was largely responsible for introducing the Soviet people in the 20th Century to the music of Debussy, Scriabin, and Stravinsky. Along with those of Feodor Chalyapin, George Balanchine, Nikolai Cherkasov, and Yuri Grigorovich, Mravinsky's life reveals much about the psychology and credo of the artist in the Soviet State. Enriched with rare photographs of Mravinsky in his various milieus, and a helpful chronology and bibliography, this study will be of great significance to students of Russian history, music history, and the creative process.