Andrei Pavlovich Petrov | |
|---|---|
Андре́й Па́влович Петро́в | |
 Andrei Petrov in 1998 | |
| Born | (1930-09-02)September 2, 1930 |
| Died | February 15, 2006(2006-02-15) (aged 75) |
| Resting place | Volkovo Cemetery |
| Occupation | Composer |
| Awards | People's Artist of the USSR (1980) |
Andrei Pavlovich Petrov (Russian:Андре́й Па́влович Петро́в; 2 September 1930, Leningrad – 15 February 2006, Saint Petersburg) was a Soviet and Russian composer. He was named aPeople's Artist of the USSR in 1980. Andrey Petrov is known for his music for numerous classic Soviet films such asWalking the Streets of Moscow,Beware of the Car, andOffice Romance.
A native of Leningrad, Petrov was the son of a military doctor; his mother was an artist. He had little interest in music until, at fourteen, he sawThe Great Waltz; after this he decided to become a composer. He studied composition at theLeningrad Conservatory underOrest Yevlakhov.
Petrov is known for his work in various genres; he wrote a number ofoperas andballets, as well as symphonic works,incidental and film music, and various songs. He is especially famous for his balletCreation of the World (1968), based on drawings byJean Effel. This was performed around the world, withMikhail Baryshnikov among its first performers. Petrov also scored over eighty films, including the Soviet-American co-productionThe Blue Bird (1976).
From 1964 until his death Petrov was the head of theSt. Petersburg Union of Composers, to which he was introduced byDmitri Shostakovich. He also founded and served as the general director of a music festival in Saint Petersburg. He won numerous prizes and awards; on May 22, 1998, he was made an honorary citizen of Saint Petersburg. In 1993 a small planet, asteroid 4785 (Petrov) was named after him.[1]
Petrov's wife, Natalya Yefimovna, was a well-knownmusicologist; his only daughter, Olga, co-wrote a number of his later works.[2]
Andrey Petrov died in Saint Petersburg; he is buried at theVolkovo Cemetery.
