Grigory Frid facts for kids
Grigory Samuilovich Frid (born September 22, 1915 – died September 22, 2012) was a talented Russian composer. He wrote many different kinds of music. He is especially known for his unique "chamber operas." These are like small operas.
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Early Life and Learning
Grigory Frid was born in Petrograd, which is now called St. Petersburg. He studied music at the famous Moscow Conservatory. His teachers included Heinrich Litinsky and Vissarion Shebalin. He also served as a soldier during World War II.
His Music Career
Frid was a very active composer. He created many musical pieces. His most famous works are his two chamber operas. He wrote the stories (called libretti) for both of them himself.
The Diary of Anne Frank Opera
One of his well-known operas is The Diary of Anne Frank. It is a "monodrama," which means it's a play or opera for just one singer. This opera has 21 scenes and is for a female singer (soprano) and a small orchestra. It lasts about one hour. Frid composed it in 1968. It was first performed in Moscow in May 1972.
The Letters of Van Gogh Opera
His other important opera is The Letters of Van Gogh. This is also a mono-opera, but it's for a male singer (baritone). It is based on the real letters that the famous painter Vincent van Gogh wrote to his brother, Theo. Frid composed this opera in 1975. It was first performed in November 1976.
Other Musical Works
Grigory Frid wrote three symphonies. These are large musical pieces for an orchestra. He also wrote concertos for different instruments. A concerto is a piece for a solo instrument with an orchestra. For example, he wrote a concerto for viola, piano, and string orchestra.
He also created music for plays and movies. This included music for a play called Phèdre. He wrote many vocal pieces too, like a song cycle called Poetry. This cycle used poems by Federico García Lorca. He also composed chamber music, which is music for a small group of instruments. This included a Piano Quintet and a Fantasia for cello and piano.
Changing Musical Style
When Frid first started composing, his music was quite traditional. It followed a style called "Socialist realism." This was a common style in the Soviet Union at the time.
However, when he was about 55 years old, he completely changed his style! He started using more modern ways of composing music. This included a technique called "twelve-tone" music.
Sharing Music and Art
Frid was also known for sharing music with young people. In the 1970s, he organized many popular lecture-concerts. These events helped young people learn about and enjoy music.
Besides music, Grigory Frid was also a visual artist. He had several exhibitions where his paintings were shown. He also wrote a few books about his memories and experiences.
Images for kids
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Grigory Frid at the "House of Composers" in Ruza, 2004
