Dvarionas, Balis

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Dvarionas, Balis

Dvarionas, Balis, Lithuanian composer, conductor, and teacher; b. Leipaia, June 19, 1904; d. Vilnius, Aug. 23, 1972. He studied at the Leipzig Cons, with Teichmuller (piano) and Karg-Elert (composition), and also received training in piano from Petri at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik and in conducting from Abendroth. In 1926 he went to Kaunas and taught piano there until 1940; in 1947 he became a prof, at the Lithuanian Cons, in Vilnius; also conducted the Lithuanian Phil, there (1940–41; 1958–61). Among his works are a Sym. (1947); Violin Concerto (1948; received a State Prize), two piano concertos (1958, 1962); opera, Dalia (1959); and many choral works. He wrote the music for the national anthem of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1950).

Bibliography

Y. Gaudrimas, B. D. (Moscow, I960).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire