Golovanov Nikolai (Semyonovich)
Golovanov Nikolai (Semyonovich)
Golovanov, Nikolai (Semyonovich), Russian conductor, composer, and pedagogue; b. Moscow, Jan. 21, 1891; d. there, Aug. 28, 1953. He studied choral conducting with Kastalsky at the Synodal School in Moscow, graduating in 1909, then entered the composition classes of Ippolitov-Ivanov and Vassilenko at the Moscow Cons. After graduation in 1914, he was engaged as asst. chorus master at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow; was its chief conductor (1919-28; 1948-53). He was also chief conductor of the Moscow Phil. (1926-29), the U.S.S.R. Ail-Union Radio Sym. Orch. (1937-53), and the Stanislavsky Opera Theater (1938-53). He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner in 1935, and was 4 times recipient of the 1st Stalin Prize (1946,1948,1950, 1951). He wrote an opera, Princess Yurata, Sym., symphonic poem, Salome, after Oscar Wilde, numerous piano pieces, and songs. He was married to Antonina Nezhdanova.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire