Joke

Born in the town of Raseiniai (Lithuania). In 1950 he graduated from the piano class of the Lithuanian Conservatory and joined the Lithuanian Opera and Ballet Theatre as an accompanist. In 1958 he graduated from the conducting class of the P. Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory. In 1960-98 he was a conductor at the Bolshoi Theatre. In 1968 he won 2nd prize at the International Competition for Orchestral Conductors of the Santa Cecilia National Academy (Rome). In 1976 he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR, and in 1977 the USSR State Prize. He died in Moscow.