Yakov Kreizberg American conductor of Russian origin. Date of Birth: 24.10.1959 Country: Monaco

Biography of Yakov Kreizberg

Yakov Kreizberg was an American conductor of Russian descent. He was born Yakov Bychkov in Leningrad and began playing piano at the age of 5. As a student at the Glinka Choir School in Leningrad, he started composing his own music and studied conducting under the guidance of Ilya Musin. By the time he received permission to leave the country, Kreizberg had already completed several of his own compositions, but was unable to take them with him due to restrictions imposed by the Soviet authorities. This disappointment led him to abandon composition and focus solely on conducting.

Kreizberg arrived in the United States in 1976 and studied at the Mannes College The New School for Music. He honed his conducting skills under the tutelage of his brother, Semen Bychkov, who was also a student of Musin. By 1981, Kreizberg had already gained experience as a professional conductor. He took his mother's maiden name to avoid being compared to his older brother and successfully completed his graduation concert on March 6, 1981. Kreizberg then went on to become the first student at the University of Michigan to earn a doctorate in orchestral and operatic conducting.

Throughout his career, Kreizberg studied under renowned conductors such as Erich Leinsdorf, Seiji Ozawa, and Leonard Bernstein. He received a scholarship from the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute and continued his studies under Bernstein. From 1985 to 1988, he served as the music director of the Mannes College Symphony Orchestra and conducted concerts at the New York City Symphony.

In 1988, Kreizberg became the chief musical director of the United Municipal Theaters of Krefeld and Mönchengladbach in Germany. During his tenure, he participated in the production of well-known operas such as "Der Fliegende Hollander," "Eugene Onegin," and "Katya Kabanova." He also played a significant role in the revival of Aribert Reimann's opera-oratorio "Troades," which received high praise from Reimann himself. At the age of 27, Kreizberg became the youngest musical director in Germany.

From 1994 to 2001, Kreizberg led the Komische Oper Berlin. During this time, he directed 10 new opera productions, revived successful projects, and conducted two ballet productions and 38 orchestral performances. He began conducting symphonic works while still serving as the director of the United Municipal Theaters of Krefeld and Mönchengladbach, and his reputation as a conductor grew exponentially. Kreizberg also ventured into the recording industry, with his first album recorded with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra being nominated for a Grammy Award.

Yakov Kreizberg passed away on March 15, 2011, in Monaco after a long and serious illness. He was 51 years old at the time of his death.