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Rudolf BarshajRussian violist and conductor
Date of Birth: 28.09.1924
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Rudolf Barshai: A Virtuoso Violist and Renowned Conductor
- Solo Career and Artistic Collaborations
- Founding the Moscow Chamber Orchestra
- Symphonic Conducting and International Career
Rudolf Barshai: A Virtuoso Violist and Renowned Conductor
Early Life and Musical EducationRudolf Borisovich Barshai was born on September 28, 1924, in Labinskaya, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, into a family of musicians. He began his formal musical training in the specialized music school at the Leningrad Conservatory, initially studying violin and later switching to viola. Subsequently, from 1944 to 1948, he honed his viola skills at the Moscow Conservatory under the tutelage of Vadim Borisovsky. He also completed his postgraduate studies under Borisovsky's guidance.
Solo Career and Artistic Collaborations
Barshai's active solo career took off after his second-place victory at the International Festival of Democratic Youth and Students in Budapest in 1949. He performed extensively as a soloist, often collaborating with notable musicians such as Sviatoslav Richter and David Oistrakh. He also formed a trio with Leonid Kogan and Mstislav Rostropovich. Barshai's vast repertoire included his own transcriptions, notably his adaptation of Antonio Vivaldi's Viola Sonata into a concerto for viola with string orchestra and organ.
Founding the Moscow Chamber Orchestra
In 1956, Barshai established the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, which became a prominent ensemble under his leadership. With the orchestra, he premiered numerous works by Soviet composers, including Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 14, Mieczysław Weinberg's Symphony No. 7 for Chamber Orchestra and Harpsichord, and Georgy Sviridov's Music for Chamber Orchestra. Barshai also crafted various arrangements for the chamber orchestra, including suites from Sergei Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet ballet and Johann Sebastian Bach's Art of Fugue.
Symphonic Conducting and International Career
From 1967 onwards, Barshai expanded his activities into symphonic conducting, making his debut with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1976, he emigrated to Israel, where he took over as the head of the Israel Chamber Orchestra. He also worked in London, Munich, and from 1982 to 1988, served as the principal conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Since the 1990s, he has led the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra. Currently, he resides in Switzerland.
