Russian conductor Alexander Sotnikov, born in Moscow, passed away on Jan. 10, 2019 following a long illness. He was 73.

Sotnikov graduated from what is now known as the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music. According to Classical Music News RU, he had the opportunity to work with some of the foremost opera and ballet ensembles in Russia throughout his career, highlights being the Igor Moiseyev state academic ensemble of popular dance, the Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Odessa National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, and the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre.

Abroad he served as music director of the orchestra at the Danish Royal Ballet, and as a guest conductor with the National Ballet of Portugal, the Tokyo ballet, the Asami Maki Ballet in Japan, the National Opera of Hungary, and the Tbilisi State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Georgia.

Sotnikov was most closely associated with the prestigious Bolshoi Theatre, where he served as principal conductor between 1995-2002. His repertoire at the Bolshoi spanned over 60 ballets and operas, including Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” “The Nutcracker,” and “The Sleeping Beauty;” Glazunov’s “Raymonda;” Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet;” Adam’s “Giselle;” Delibes’ “Le Coppélia;” and Petipa’s “Don Quixote,” to name just a few.