composer conductor public person
Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov was born on May 29, 1936 in Voronezh, Russian Federation. During the Great Patriotic War, the family moved first to Siberia, then to the Far East, where his father was transferred to work. After the war, the family moved back to Voronezh.
Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich began composing at age 9 and entered the Moscow Conservatory at 15. Later he studied with Tikhon Khrennikov and Lev Ginzburg. He composed symphonies, symphonic poems, as well as works for chamber orchestra, small ensembles and solo instruments.
Outside his native country Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich is best known as a composer of music for such films as War and Peace, the 1966-1967 film directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, Ivan's Childhood and Andrei Rublev for Andrei Tarkovsky. He has composed for some 40 films in total.
Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich also had a successful career as a touring conductor from the 1970s. He has recorded for Melodiya, the Russian record company. His Symphony No. 2 was released on the Melodiya label. He was also a professor at the University of Kansas from 1990 to 1991.
Quotes from others about the person
Tarkovsky: "I cannot imagine a better composer for myself than Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov."
