Yuri Temirkanov
Yuri Khatuevich Temirkanov (; ; born December 10, 1938) is a Russian conductor of Circassian (Kabardian) origin. Temirkanov has been the Music Director and Chief Conductor of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic since 1988. Early life. Born in 1938 in the North Caucasus city of Nalchik, Temirkanov attended the Leningrad School for Talented Children where he continued his studies in violin and viola. Career. In 1968, he was appointed Principal Conductor of the then-renamed Leningrad Symphony where he remained until his appointment as Music Director of the Kirov Opera and Ballet in 1976. Temirkanov is a frequent guest conductor for  the leading orchestras of Europe, Asia and the United States. He was the first Soviet artist permitted to perform in the United States after cultural relations were resumed with the Soviet Union at the end of the Soviet–Afghan War in 1988. In addition to leading the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Temirkanov was the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's 11th Music Director from 2000 until 2006 and is currently the Principal Guest Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Laureate of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. In 2015 he was assigned by Teatro La Fenice the prize A Life  for Music, unofficially known as the Nobel Prize for Musicians. Controversy. Temirkanov has drawn attention for saying that women are essentially weak and thus not well suited to be classical conductors. In 2016, he said, "Yes, women can be conductors. I am not against them conducting. But I simply don't like it."