On the 19 of January Evgeny Kolobov would have been 70  (18.01.2016).

These somewhat ironic lines, written in 1997, express Kolobov’s deep and wholehearted love of literature. The outstanding conductor was close with many writers and literary scholars. He used every chance to share his love with his colleagues. That creative dialogue prompted ideas for musical performances. In Kolobov’s lifetime, there were literary and musical evenings and meetings with people of letters at the Novaya Opera. Among guests of these evenings were the literary scholars Vladimir Lakshin, Lev Anninsky, and Valentin Nepomnyashchy, the writer Yuri Nagibin, the poet Andrey Voznesensky, the actress and writer Alla Demidova. Add to this Kolobov’s intimate friendship with the writer Viktor Astafiev.