Shostakovich, Maxim (1938– )

Russian conductor and pianist. He was the son of Dmitri Shostakovich. He studied at the Leningrad Conservatory, learning conducting with Rozhdestvensky. He was assistant conductor with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra (1953–65), and the USSR State Orchestra (1966–71); he was later principal conductor of the latter (1971–81). He made his London debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1968, and conducted The Nose there in 1979. He gave the first performance of his father's 15th symphony (1972). In 1981 he settled in the USA, where he was principal conductor of the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra (1986–91). He conducted Lady Macbeth of the Mtensk District at the Juilliard School, New York (1984) and at Hamburg (1990).