 His studies under Genrikh Litinsky at the Moscow Conservatory were interrupted by a term of duty in the entertainment division of the Red Army.Resuming his studies in 1945, he worked with Dmitri Shostakovich and Nikolai Myaskovsky.In addition to a Violin Sonata (1947), his works include a Cello Sonata (1966), a String Quartet (1969), four symphonies (1955, 1968, 1982, 1991) and a ballet, "Cipollino" (1973), as well as various other orchestral works and music for the theater and films.