Boris Arapov

Internet Edition compiled by Onno van Rijen

Updated 25 May 2008

Born

30 August / 12 September 1905 in St. Petersburg. Died: 21 January 1992 in St. Petersburg.

Education

Boris Arapov graduated in 1930 from the Conservatory in Leningrad, where he studied with V. Shcherbachyov and M. Chernov.

Style

His works are often programmatic with colorful orchestration. Most of his works are stage and symphonic works. He was influenced by Hindemith, Stravinsky and Prokofiev. In the 1930s he developed a fascination with the Orient. His works in this period are based on themes and harmonies from these regions.

Works

Fugato for orchestra (1928)

Variations for piano (1929)

Sonata for violin solo (1930)

March Song of the Geologists (1933)

After A. Prokofiev.
Song Cycle after Pushkin (1937)

Humoresque for piano (1938)

Tadzikian Suite for orchestra (1939)

Protest Songs for bass and jazz orchestra (1940)

Not published.
Trio on Mongolian Themes for clarinets, violin and piano (1943)

Ten Usbekian Pieces for piano (1944)

Not published.
"Dzhelal-Eddin", oratorio after Alabayev (1944)
Composed with A. Koslovsky. Unpublished.
"Khodsha Nasreddin", opera after Solovov (1944)
On Uzbek themes.
Libretto: V. Vitkovich. Unpublished.
Symphony No. 1 in C minor (1947)

Russian Suite for orchestra (1950)

Six Pieces on Chinese Themes for piano (1955)

The Fregate "Victory", opera after Puschkins "The Moor Peter the Great" (1957)

Libretto: V. Rozhdestvensky and A. Ivanovsky. Unpublished.
Symphony No. 2 in D major "Free China" (1959)

Symphony No. 3 (1962)

Violin Concerto (1963-1964)

LP Melodiya D 020567-8: Leningrad Symphony Orchestra, Arvid Jansons (cond), Mikhail Vaiman (violin)
LP Melodiya C 01589-90: Leningrad Symphony Orchestra, Arvid Jansons (cond), Mikhail Vaiman (violin)
CD Melodiya MEL CD 10 00839: Leningrad Symphony Orchestra, Arvid Jansons (cond), Mikhail Vaiman (violin)
Song Cycle after Blok (1947-1967)

Etude-Scherzo for piano (1967)

LP Melodiya CM 03663-4: G. Sokolov (piano)
"Rain", opera-novella after Somerset Maugham (1967)
Libretto: T. Todorova and B. Arapov.
Concerto for orchestra (1969)

Monologue after A. Vosnessenski for baritone, trumpet, percussion and piano (1969)

Three Pieces for piano (1970)

Piano Sonata No. 1 (1971)

LP Melodiya CM 03663-4: G. Sokolov (piano)
"Portrait of Dorian Gray", ballet after Oscar Wilde (1971)
Libretto by G. Alexidse.
Unpublished.
Concerto for piano, violin, percussion and chamber orchestra (1973)
In Memory of Igor Stravinsky.

LP Melodiya C10 12883-4: Leningrad Chamber Orchestra, Alexander Dmitriev (conductor), M. Vaiman, G. Sokolov, Moskalenko

Symphony No. 4 (1977)

Violin Sonata (1978)

LP Melodiya C10-16971 004
Piano Sonata No. 2 (1978)
LP Melodiya C10 23829: G. Sokolov (piano)
"The Four Seasons", vocal cycle for soprano, tenor and instrumental nonet (1978)
LP Melodiya C10 12883-4: Instrumental Ensemble, Gennady Rozhdestvensky (cond), Tatiana Melentayeva (soprano), Boris Mareshkin (tenor)
CD Melodiya MEL CD 10 00839: Instrumental Ensemble, Gennady Rozhdestvensky (cond), Tatiana Melentayeva (soprano), Boris Mareshkin (tenor)
Quintet for oboe, horn, harp, viola and cello (1979)

Symphony No. 5 (1981)

LP Melodiya C10 23829: Leningrad Symphony Orchestra, Alexandre Dmitriev (cond)
CD Melodiya MEL CD 10 00839: Leningrad Symphony Orchestra, Alexandre Dmitriev (cond)
Cello Sonata (1985)

And furthermore:
Sonata for French horn and piano

LP Melodiya C10 23829: V. Buyanovsky (French horn), O. Malov (piano)
Cantatas
Film Music
Folk Song Arrangements
Songs

Thanks to Pier Giorgio Leone from Italy and Jean-Paul Giraudet from France

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