Was a renowned Russian pianist, composer and former chief conductor of
the Bolshoi Theater. He was named a People's Artist of the Soviet Union
in 1968 and was awarded the Lenin prize in 1972 and the Order of Lenin
1978. He was given the Soviet State prize for creative achievement in
1983.
Conductor who was a leading interpreter of Russian composers such as
Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky and
Scriabin.