Dmitri Borisovich Kabalevsky (30 December [O.S. 17 December] 1904 – 14 February 1987) was a prominent composer, teacher and educator, pianist and composer, musical thinker, public figure, creator of the concept of musical and aesthetic upbringing for children and youth, and passionate promoter of the world classical music heritage who played a tremendous part in the forming of the artistic environment of domestic culture. His active life stance and artistic views always aroused interest and obtained recognition not only in Russia but also overseas, which allows us to speak about the master’s significant contribution to the world’s artistic culture in general.
Kabalevsky’s legacy constitutes an enormous artistic world that, to our contemporaries, could be an example of self-fulfillment of an artist who implemented his ethic and aesthetic ideals.
Kabalevsky’s legacy as a composer is extraordinarily extensive – five operas, a ballet, an operetta, thirteen symphonic works, seven instrumental concertos, six oratorios and cantatas, many chamber pieces, numerous piano works for children, young people and established musicians, over a hundred songs, vocal cycles, music for theatre and radio productions, and also music for ten motion pictures. The most important traits of Kabalevsky’s personality were obvious even in his earliest works – depth and keenness of artistic perception, a feeling of an organic indissoluble connection with life around him.
