Conductor Yuri Simonov, whose biography, whose work will be presented to your attention below, managed to achieve a lot with his work and perseverance. How was his life? Let's start the story.
Childhood and adolescence
Yuri Ivanovich Simonov was born on March 4, 1941 in Saratov, in a musical creative family. Being constantly in the appropriate environment, the boy became seriously interested in the art of conducting in his childhood. His musical education began in the violin class, and at the age of twelve he showed a desire and for the first time became the conductor of the orchestra of the music school.
In 1956, at the age of fifteen, the future conductor moved to the city of Leningrad, where he was admitted to a school at the N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory, and then his studies continued at the educational institution itself, where Simonov studied direct conducting.
Yuri Simonov in 1966 takes part in the All-Union competition held in the capital, and confidently wins it, after which he leads the orchestra of the Kislovodsk Philharmonic. In 1968, for the first time in history, a Soviet conductor wins theinternational competition held in Rome.
This attracts the attention of the famous conductor E. A. Marvinsky, who offers the talented young man to become an assistant in the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Leningrad Philharmonic. In this position, the conductor worked for about a year, after which he set about staging the opera at the Bolshoi Theater.
Work at the Bolshoi Theater
From this moment on, his biography has changed dramatically. Yuri Simonov in January 1969 made his first appearance at the Bolshoi Theater with the premiere of the opera Aida. Then there was a triumphant tour in Paris and the appointment as chief conductor of the Bolshoi Theater of the Soviet Union. The activity of the conductor in this post lasted fifteen years. During this period, performances by outstanding composers Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mozart and many others were staged. The theater constantly developed and improved its activities. Much credit for this belonged to Yuri Simonov.
In 1985, Simonov created the Small State Symphony Orchestra of the Soviet Union, which he directed until 1989. As a result of some conflict circumstances caused by increased demands on subordinates, he has to vacate his position. After the collapse of the Union, its activities remain as active both in Russia and abroad.
Creativity abroad
The outstanding conductor performed not only on domestic stages, he took an active part in tours around the cities of Europe and America. These were performancesopera and ballet dancers, as well as the Chamber Orchestra created by him from talented young enthusiasts.
In 1975, under his direction, the opera was staged at the Metropolitan Opera, in 1982 he made his debut at the London Theater. In 1991, Yuri Simonov was invited to conduct in the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1994 to 2002 he successfully directed the National Orchestra of Belgium, from 1995 to 1998 he is a conductor at the Budapest Opera.
Teaching activities
Along with creative activity, the conductor passes on his skills and abilities to the younger generation. For many years he lectured at the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory, starting in 1985 with the rank of professor. Since 2006 he has been a teacher at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He also constantly organizes extended master classes for those who wish both on the territory of the Russian Federation and abroad.
Simonov's great merit in the formation of creative youth within the walls of the Bolshoi Theater over the years of his fruitful activity. He spent a lot of time in the classroom, teaching creative skills to constantly renewing teams, putting them on the right level of skill. It was painstaking and selfless work, bringing tangible results, contributing to the professional growth of the young generation of talented people.
Notable dates
Since 1998, Yuri Simonov has been a conductor and head of the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Moscowphilharmonic. Thanks to his unsurpassed ability to lead and show a strong conductor's plasticity, to establish trusting contact with the audience, bright theatrical thinking, the team became the best in the country.
In 2011, a significant event in cultural life was the 70th anniversary of the famous conductor, marked by concerts in Moscow, Orenburg and abroad. The continuation of the season was a tour to South Korea and an anniversary concert of the orchestra on September 15, 2012.
In the 2015-2016 season, the maestro celebrated his anniversary, giving the corresponding number of performances in Moscow and his native Saratov, namely 75. In 2016-2017, the conductor plans to perform in Moscow concert halls, as well as to tour the cities of Russia ‒ Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Saratov, Nizhny Novgorod - and foreign trips to China, Japan and Switzerland.
Merits and titles
The government did its best to recognize the merits of the outstanding conductor. In 1971, he became an Honored Artist of the RSFSR, and in 1976, a People's Artist of the RSFSR. In 1981, Simonov was awarded such a high title as "People's Artist of the USSR", emphasizing the nationwide love for the work of the famous conductor.
His work was duly appreciated not only at home, but also in many other countries. He was awarded the "Officer's Cross" of Hungary, the "Order of the Commander" of Romania, the "Order of Cultural Merit" of the Polish Republic.
Interesting facts from the composer's life
Bthe conductor's biographies contained facts that contradicted each other. For example, there was an expulsion from the Leningrad Conservatory, and then, thanks to merit, Simonov's name was entered in golden letters on the board of honor of this educational institution.
Reluctance to be an opera conductor at a young age did not prevent him from becoming the head of the Bolshoi Theater and serving there for fifteen years, becoming the youngest in this position, spending the most time in office, making a huge contribution to the development of the theater and the entire opera art.
Conductor Yuri Simonov, whose biography is full of interesting events, in 1998, actively working abroad, in a very difficult period for Russian culture, returned to his homeland and began working at the Moscow Philharmonic. The invitation came directly from the symphony orchestra and was accepted by Simonov without hesitation, despite the small salary and certain inconveniences.
The conductor, who briefly worked as an assistant at the Leningrad Philharmonic, has been closely cooperating with them for more than forty years, regularly performs on the stage of the Great Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, and takes part in tours of the symphony orchestra.
