Mieczyslaw Weinberg (1919-1996) was a Polish, Soviet, and Russian composer and pianist. His compositions include 22 symphonies, a host of chamber works (including 17 string quartets as well as sonatas for violin, cello, and piano), a violin concerto, and seven operas. He was a contemporary of Dmitri Shostakovich, and they often shared ideas with each other. A 2004 reviewer considered him as "the third great Soviet composer, along with Prokofiev and Shostakovich". Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1971), People's Artist of the RSFSR (1980), USSR State Prize laureate (1980), author of more than 150 opuses: symphonies, operas, ballets, concerts, numerous chamber works, music for performances, movies, cartoons.
