He was born on January 9, 1923 in Mogilev. From 1936 to 1941 he studied piano and composition at the Gnessin School of Music and Music in Moscow, then from 1941 to 1945 at the Moscow Conservatory, in the class of Vissarion Yakovlevich Shebalin. As a student, he wrote several romances on poems by Robert Burns translated by Samuel Marshak. After graduating from the conservatory, he worked in the musical editorial office of the Radio Committee of the USSR. During these years, he wrote several works
more
He was born on January 9, 1923 in Mogilev. From 1936 to 1941 he studied piano and composition at the Gnessin School of Music and Music in Moscow, then from 1941 to 1945 at the Moscow Conservatory, in the class of Vissarion Yakovlevich Shebalin. As a student, he wrote several romances on poems by Robert Burns translated by Samuel Marshak. After graduating from the conservatory, he worked in the musical editorial office of the Radio Committee of the USSR. During these years, he wrote several works for chamber, symphonic and pop orchestras, romances on Pushkin's poems and the first pop songs - "Mother's Song", "Why, Why", "We'll See You", "Marianne", "In the Evening Silence", "I returned to my native city". For the first time, the composer became known thanks to the music for the performance of the Moscow Art Theatre based on the play by William Shakespeare “The Twelfth Night” (1955) . The songs to the poems of Pavel Antokolsky from this production gained an independent life and later often sounded from the concert stage. However, the real popularity he brought songs he wrote for pop artists, such as "Silence", "I love you, life", "Do Russians want wars", "Alesha". In his work he addressed both civil-patriotic and lyrical themes. With him worked leading poets of the country, such as Evgeny Yevtushenko, Konstantin Vanshenkin, Lev Oshanin, Leonid Derbenev, Mikhail Tanich, Inna Goff, Igor Shaferan and many others. Kolmanovsky’s songs are characterized by a soft, natural, rooted in folk music, melody, which is successfully complemented by a personal, trusting emotional coloring. Widely known were his lyrical songs "We will wait for you", "Biryusinka", "Waltz about the waltz", "Crane", "Our mothers", "Only one" and many others. Despite the subsequent recognition at the highest level, at first Kolmanovsky's songs were often subjected to official criticism, accusing the composer of excessive melancholy and indulging in popular taste. However, he has always remained true to his lyrical style. His songs were performed by Mark Bernes, Klavdia Shulzhenko, Joseph Kobzon, Lev Leshchenko, Eduard Hill.
In addition to pop songs, Kolmanovsky wrote music for productions of the Moscow Art Theatre, Vakhtangov Theatre, Sovremennik and other Moscow theaters, radio and television performances. He also owns musical performances “Women’s Monastery” (1963), “Oh, this Vronsky!” (1975), “About Ivan the Negligible” (1980), a series of songs on poems by Jean-Pierre Beranger, instrumental plays, orchestral compositions, children’s opera “Snow White” (1965). His music is heard in the feature films directed by Alexei Korenev “You call Taimyr” (1970), “Big change” (1972), “Three days in Moscow” (1974), “Family circumstances” (1977) and “Spring on the Oder” (1967) Leon Saakov. He also worked in animation: “The Nut Twig” (1955, dir. Ivan Aksenchuk), “The Despicable Duckling” (1956, dir. Vladimir Degtyarev), “Why the Kitten Left” (1957, dir. Mikhail Kalinin), “Ali-Baba and Forty Thieves” (1957, dir. Grigory Lomidze), “The Braveling Ant” (1961, dir. Vladimir Polkovnikov). He was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Russia (1974) and People's Artist of the USSR (1991), laureate of the State Prize of the USSR (1984).