Musicatlas
Galina Ustvolskaya
News for Ustvolskaya
- Ustvolskaya (87) dies in Saint Petersburg
[posted 27 December 2006]Last Friday the Russian composer Galina Ustvolskaya has died in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She has been one of the famous Russian composers of the second half of the 20th century, with a very unique style.
[Source: www.nrc.nl]
Music
Ustvolskaya’s works are highly spiritual in character but seldomly have the quieting effect we find with other spiritual composers, like e.g. Pärt, but rather the opposite. Her “Dies Irae” (1972–1973), for 8 double basses, piano and percussion, is a good example of the disquieting effect her music can evoke.
Works of Galina Ustvolskaya have been recorded on BMG Classics 74321 49955 2:
- Concerto for Piano, String Orchestra and Timpani
- Octet for 2 Oboes, 4 Violins, Timpani and Piano
- Sonata no 3. For Piano
- Grand Duet for Violoncello and Piano
On Conifer Classics:
- Piano Sonatas Nos. 1-6, Frank Denyer, piano
- Symphony No. 5 "Amen"
- Composition No. 3 (Benedictus Qui Venit)
- Octet
Life
Even though Galina Ustvolskaya was a famous composer, she has lived a very solitary most of the time. She studied under Shostakovich (who was very impressed by her) at the Saint Petersburg conservatory, and from 1947 to 1975 she also taught at the same conservatory. She seldomly travelled abroad.