May 10 marked the 105th anniversary of renowned musician, principal conductor of the Novosibirsk opera and ballet theatre Mikhail Bukhbinder’s birth.
Mikhail Bukhbinder (1911-1970), People’s Artist of the USSR, continued his studies in Leningrad (famous conducting class of Ilya Musin) after graduating from Tbilisi conservatoire. Already in his student days, as he was working in opera studio under Leningrad conservatoire, he collaborated with famous singers and directors. He was invited to conduct in the Tbilisi opera and ballet theatre, where he gained a lot of practical experience. In 1946 Mikhail Bukhbinder was assigned as the musical director of the Buryat opera and ballet theatre and in 1950 he became the principal conductor of the Novosibirsk opera and ballet theatre.
In those years when Mikhail Bukhbinder was leading artistic companies of the Novosibirsk opera and ballet theatre, such legendary productions as «Boris Godunov», «Khovanschina», «Sadko», «Tosca», «Ivan Susanin» were staged; opera and ballet pieces by contemporary composers were translated into theatre productions; first foreign tour performances were held with big success.
It was the time of flowering and rise of the Opera Company and strengthening of ballet tradition; they started talking about the Theatre’s symphonic orchestra as of a bright and powerful team. Those who worked together with Mikhail Bukhbinder remember him as a brilliant conductor treating artists with great respect.