Svetlanov, Evgeny (1928–2002)

Russian conductor and composer. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory, where he was conductor with the Bolshoi Theatre 1954–65, notably in Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle, and works by Soviet composers. In 1964 he took the Bolshoi company to La Scala, Milan. From 1965 he was principal conductor of the USSR State Symphony Orchestra, with which he gave many performances of Soviet works, and made tours to Europe, Japan, and the USA. He was principal guest conductor with the London Symphony Orchestra from 1979.

Works piano concerto (1951), Siberian Fantasy for orchestra (1953), Symphony (1956), chamber music.