Composer who reflected the moods of Soviet life under Stalin.
He memorized previous pieces and pretended to be able to read music by playing from memory.
He had a contentious relationship with the Soviet government, but it never hindered his piano playing, nor compositions.
He got married to Nina Varzar on May 13, 1932, then to Margarita Kainova in July 1956, and then to Irina Supinskaya in December 1962.
He protested the regime of Joseph Stalin.
