Nikolai Golovanov

In her autobiography, Galina Vishnevskaya terms him the theater's chief conductor, and tells of his dismissal from the Bolshoi and his death - which she attributed to the humiliation of the experience of losing this position. It has been reported that Golovanov's firing was the result of Stalin's displeasure at Golovanov's having tried to use a Jewish singer, Mark Reizen, in the title role of Tsar Boris Godunov in his recording of Mussorgsky's opera. Golovanov actually did record the opera with Reizen as Boris, but later remade Reizen's part with another Boris, Alexander Pirogov. Golovanov's recorded output was substantial and quite individual in interpretive approach. In his discography we find all but one of the Liszt tone poems, the complete Scriabin symphonies and Piano Concerto, Tchaikovsky's First and Sixth symphonies, as well as shorter works, Beethoven's First Symphony, Violin Concerto and Triple Concerto, Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade and his operas Sadko and Christmas Eve, Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov and Pictures at an Exhibition, Rachmaninoff's Second and Third symphonies, the opera Aleko and other compositions, Glazunov's Fifth, Sixth and Seventh symphonies, and scores by Grieg, Mozart and others. In addition to audio recordings by Golovanov, there is a film of Golovanov conducting the USSR State Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. The film does not feature synchronous sound, but has short segments of Golovanov conducting. Golovanov was also a composer; his works include the opera "Princess Yurata", a symphony and other orchestral works as well as choral music.

Nikolai Golovanov studied at Moscow Conservatory. The recorded working language is Russian. The field of work recorded is music. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are opera. Employment is recorded with Moscow Conservatory. Distinctions recorded are Stalin Prize, Order of Lenin, People's Artist of the USSR and Order of the Red Banner of Labour.

• Name — Nikolai Golovanov • Birthplace — Moscow, Russian Empire • Died — 28 August 1953 • Place of death — Nikolina Gora, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union • Occupation — * Conductor • composer