Death of a rebel Soviet composer, 88
mainThe ingenious Sergei Slonimsky died yesterday in St Petersburg.
Nephew of the US music writer Nicolai Slonimsky, he daringly produced some 12-note scores in the 1960s and earned an early reputation as a bit of a rebel. But the system soon cracked down on him and he did penance with a lot of folk-based scores. At the Conservatoire, he was confined to teaching students from Third World countries, which he much enjoyed.
Slonimsky leaves 8 operas, 34 symphonies and a warehouse full of chamber music.
His opera Maria Stuart was performed at the Edinburgh festival by the Mikhailovsky theatre.
Funeral on February 13.
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