Early years He began his musical career, aged 13, as a viola player and in the children's choir at the
Bolshoi Theatre in
Moscow, performing alongside singers such as
Feodor Chaliapin. From 1923 to 1929 he attended the
Moscow Conservatory, taught by
Reinhold Glière. From 1929 to 1937 he ran the music department of the newly established Central Theatre of the
Red Army and from 1933 to 1941 was associate professor of Moscow Conservatory. In 1937, he became the deputy artistic director of the Alexandrov Ensemble. He was also a composer, writing in various genres of symphonic and chamber instrumental music. concerts at the Front, officially to actively promote Russian folk music and the songs of Soviet composers and
folk music for the sake of patriotism and morale. During this time, Boris shouldered increasing responsibility, due to his father's heart condition. After Alexandrov's death in 1946, Boris Aleksandrov, his son, went on to succeed his father as musical director for the ensemble.
Leadership of the Ensemble Boris Aleksandrov was a composer, arranger, conductor, music critic, artist and teacher: an important 20th century figure in Russian military music. He saw to the training and promotion of many fine soloists. After World War II, the ensemble, led by Boris Aleksandrov, traveled abroad sixty-eight times and was well received in many countries throughout
Europe. He carried on the central idea which drove his father: that the choir was central to the ensemble, and that without the choir there would be no ensemble.
Close of a long career In 1985, his 80th birthday was publicly celebrated. Aleksandrov finally retired in 1987. He was succeeded by Igor Agafonnikov the same year, with Anatoly Maltsev as the ensemble chief. He retired as the principal conductor in 1994; he died that year and was buried in
Moscow at the
Novodevichy Cemetery. He was succeeded by Viktor Fedorov, the chorus master since 1986. == Collaborations ==