In Memory of Yuri Khatuevich Temirkanov

November 2nd marks the remembrance of the world-renowned maestro, artistic director of the Saint Petersburg Shostakovich Philharmonic, and People’s Artist of the USSR, Yuri Khatuevich Temirkanov.

In the realm of classical music, he stood as a titan of the conductor’s craft—a genius who «sculpted» both sound and the human soul. For Kabardino-Balkarian State University he remained a wise mentor, a guardian of traditions, and a dear friend who never forgot his roots. Yuri Temirkanov was named an honorary professor of the university and, through his steadfast support for its development, also served as a member of its Board of Trustees.

Yuri Temirkanov was born on December 10, 1938, in Nalchik. His entry into the world of great music happened almost by chance. When he was ten, a neighbor—a musician who had relocated from Ashgabat following an earthquake—asked a group of boys in the courtyard, «Would you like to study music?» Young Yura replied, «I would,» simply because he did not want to offend an elder by refusing. Had it not been for that moment, the maestro later admitted, he might have become a painter—his first and most profound passion.

In 1953, fate brought the talented young man to Leningrad. His studies in violin and viola, followed by his training in the conducting department of the conservatory—under the tutelage of the legendary Ilya Musin and Nikolai Rabinovich—paved his way to the global stage. Having made his debut in 1965 with Verdi’s La Traviata, Temirkanov ascended to the very pinnacle of the global musical pantheon. For over a decade, he led the Kirov Theatre (now the Mariinsky), and in 1988, he was appointed artistic director and chief conductor of the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Leningrad Philharmonic—a position the great musician held for the rest of his life.

His professional record includes performances with the Philadelphia, New York, Berlin, and Vienna Philharmonic orchestras. He conducted at the concert marking the 50th anniversary of the United Nations in Rome (1996) and at the Nobel Prize laureates’ concert in Stockholm (2009).

Colleagues referred to him as a «maestro with the soul of an artist.» His style was characterized by vivid emotional intensity and virtuosic technique, all while remaining deeply faithful to the composer’s original vision.

«Classical music has the power to influence human consciousness, liberating it from negative thoughts,» Temirkanov believed.
Despite his worldwide fame, Yuri Khatuevich always maintained a close connection to his native Kabardino-Balkaria. Every visit to his homeland was a significant event. He was a great friend of Kabardino-Balkarian State University. Addressing the students, the maestro remarked:

«Today, as culture is gradually being eroded, the university stands as the very place where the intelligentsia is forged. Without an intelligentsia and culture, there is no future.»

The life and work of Yuri Temirkanov have been extensively documented in books and a series of films. Children’s Music School No. 1 in Nalchik—the place where Temirkanov once took his first steps—bears his name.

Yet, perhaps the most beautiful symbol of his enduring legacy lies far beyond Earth: orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter is the asteroid 6432 Temirkanov.

Yuri Temirkanov passed away on November 2, 2023. The cherished memory of this great man will remain in our hearts forever.