Karetnikov, Nikolai

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Karetnikov, Nikolai

Karetnikov, Nikolai, Russian composer; b. Moscow, June 28, 1930; d. there, Oct. 10, 1994. He was a student of Shebalin at the Moscow Cons. (1948–53). He embraced contemporary means of expression in his works, including 12-tone techniques. His advanced scores were not welcomed in official circles, although some of his music was performed abroad. His opera Til Ulenshpigel (Till Eulenspiegel; 1985) had to be recorded in secret, which prompted Gerard McBurney on BBC Radio 3 to dub it the first samizdat opera. It was finally performed in public in Bielefeld in 1993. He also composed the opera-oratorio Misteriya apostola Pavla (The Mystery of St. Paul; 1972-87), ballet music, film scores, 4 syms., much chamber music, and piano pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire