Russia mourning death of popular composer

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to the family of the composer Nikita Bogoslovsky, who died last night at the age of 91, the Kremlin press-service reported.

Tikhon Khrennikov, a colleague and friend of Bogoslovsky's, said in a RIA interview that the death of this remarkable musician, whose songs earned him national and international acclaim, was a huge loss both for the music community and the general public.

Nikita Bogoslovsky was born in St. Petersburg on May 22, 1913. His music legacy includes eight symphonies, scores to 80 theatrical productions and 120 films, an opera, and as many as 300 songs. He enjoyed nationwide popularity both as a songwriter and a community activist who did a lot to promote cultural contacts between Russia and France.