Rozhdestvensky, Gennady (1931– )

Russian conductor. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory and worked at the Bolshoi 1951–70, giving operas by Prokofiev and Britten as well as the usual ballets. His London debut was in 1956 and in 1970 he conducted Boris Godunov at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He was chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra 1978–81, and of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra from 1981. He is experienced in a much wider range of modern works than his limited programmes in London would suggest, although in 1991 he gave the first performance there of Jacob's Ladder by Smirnov.