The great composer and husband of Maya Plisetskaya, Rodion Shchedrin, has died

Tonight, at the age of 93, the outstanding Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin passed away. The Bolshoi Theatre announced his death.

"Rodion Shchedrin is a unique phenomenon and an entire epoch in world musical culture. His operas, ballets, and symphonic works have been performed with great success on the world's largest stages for decades. His invaluable legacy consistently resonates in the hearts of listeners," the theatre's statement notes.

Soviet and Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin has gone down in history as one of the most significant figures in music of the 20th and 21st centuries. People's Artist of the USSR, laureate of the Lenin Prize, the USSR State Prize, and twice recipient of the Russian Federation State Prize, he left behind an enormous creative legacy recognized throughout the world. Shchedrin is the author of seven operas, five ballets, three symphonies, and fourteen concertos. In addition, he created numerous chamber, vocal, choral, and instrumental compositions, as well as music for theater and cinema.

His contribution to art was recognized with the highest state awards, including the complete set of "For Merit to the Fatherland" orders - an extremely rare recognition for a cultural figure.