He graduated from the Moscow School of Choral Singing and in 1955 J. Shaporin's compositions and J. Flier's piano classes at the Moscow Conservatory. in 1959 graduated from Moscow Conservatory graduate school. Since 1965 until 1969 taught at the Moscow Conservatory.1973-1990 Chairman of the Union of Composers of Russia. For his merits, he and his wife, ballerina Maja Plisetskaya, were granted citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania. He created ballets, operas, cantatas, oratorios, symphonies, concerts for orchestra, piano, choir, chamber music.
