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Igor BuketoffAmerican conductor, arranger and teacher
Date of Birth: 29.05.1915
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Igor Buketov
Igor Buketov was an American conductor, arranger, and educator who had a special relationship with Russian music, particularly the works of Sergei Rachmaninoff. He also made significant contributions to the development of British contemporary music and new music in general.
Early Life and Education
Igor Buketov was born on May 29, 1915, in Hartford, Connecticut. He was the son of a Russian Orthodox priest and often referred to himself as the "last active conductor with pre-revolutionary blood in his veins." His father was acquainted with Sergei Rachmaninoff, who asked the priest to assemble a choir in 1927 for the world premiere of his composition "Three Russian Folk Songs, Op. 41." Buketov attended the rehearsal for the premiere and informed his father that conductor Leopold Stokowski had his own ideas about the tempo for the final song, leading to Rachmaninoff's refusal to comply.
Buketov received his education at the University of Kansas from 1931-1932. He then studied at the Juilliard School in New York from 1935-1941 and the Los Angeles Conservatory from 1935-1945. He taught at the Los Angeles Conservatory and chaired the choral singing department at the Juilliard School and Adelphi College.
Conducting Career
During his early career, Buketov conducted several orchestras in the United States, including the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1941-1947, he served as the musical director of the Chautauqua Opera Association while also teaching at Columbia University. Buketov was awarded the first Ditson Conductor's Award in 1941.
From 1953-1963, Buketov taught at Butler University and became closely associated with the Romantic Music Festival held at the university. He conducted the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra from 1964-1966 and gained international recognition. At the request of Eugene Ormandy, Buketov restored Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," using a Russian Orthodox-style choir at the beginning of the opera, which he recorded with the New Philharmonia Orchestra.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Buketov resided in Manhattan. He passed away on September 7, 2001, at the age of 86 in the Bronx. He is survived by his wife and daughter. Buketov's contributions to the music world, including his arrangements, restoration work, and teaching, left a lasting impact on the field. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Los Angeles Conservatory.
