Rozhdestvensky was born May 4, 1931 in Moscow to musician parents as Gennady Nikolayevich Anosov, but adopted his mother's maiden name in its masculine form for his professional career. He studied conducting with his father Nikolai Anosov at the Moscow Conservatory and piano with Lev Oborin. Already known for having conducted Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre at the age of 20, he quickly established his reputation. He premiered many works of Soviet composers, including Edison Denisov's Le soleil des Incas (Sun of the Incas) (1964), as well as giving the Russian premiere of Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream and the Western premiere of Dmitri Shostakovich's Fourth Symphony at the 1962 Edinburgh Festival. He became general artistic director of the Bolshoi Theatre in 2000, and in 2001 conducted the world premiere of the original version of Sergei Prokofiev's opera The Gambler. Not long afterwards he resigned, citing desertion by singers, production problems and hostile coverage by the Moscow press.
In November 2008, Rozhdestvensky withdrew from scheduled performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It was later reported by the Boston Globe that, although rehearsals were going well, he was insulted by the marketing for the concert. Both the posters outside the hall, which listed the cello soloist, Lynn Harrell, more prominently, and the subscription brochure, which did not include the maestro in a section on prominent guest conductors, were unacceptable to him. The BSO released a statement regretting his cancellation. He was replaced by BSO assistant conductor Julian Kuerti.
Among the works dedicated to Rozhdestvensky is Sofia Gubaidulina's symphony Stimmen... Verstummen....
Rozhdestvensky is considered a versatile conductor and a highly cultured musician with a supple stick technique. In moulding his interpretations, he gives a clear idea of the structural outlines and emotional content of a piece, combined with a performing style which melds logic, intuition and spontaneity. He has been praised for his efficient rehearsals which he keeps short, and is noted for his habit of walking around the stage while conducting and not using a podium, even at concerts.
Disc 1 01 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 in D major ("Classical"), Op. 25 - I. Allegro 3:44 02 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 in D major ("Classical"), Op. 25 - II. Larghetto 4:01 03 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 in D major ("Classical"), Op. 25 - III. Gavotta. Non troppo allegro 1:33 04 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 in D major ("Classical"), Op. 25 - IV. Finale. Molto vivace 4:01 05 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40 - I. Allegro ben articulato 11:30 06 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40 - III. Tema con variationi 21:28 07 Prokofiev: Hamlet, Op. 77 (incidental music from the play) - Fanfares I 3:16 08 Prokofiev: Hamlet, Op. 77 (incidental music from the play) - Fanfares II 2:08 09 Prokofiev: Hamlet, Op. 77 (incidental music from the play) - Fanfares I, Pantomime 3:07 10 Prokofiev: Hamlet, Op. 77 (incidental music from the play) - Ophelia's First Song 2:29 11 Prokofiev: Hamlet, Op. 77 (incidental music from the play) - Ophelia's Second Song 2:36 12 Prokofiev: Hamlet, Op. 77 (incidental music from the play) - Ophelia's Third Song 1:28 13 Prokofiev: Hamlet, Op. 77 (incidental music from the play) - Ophelia's Fourth Song 1:29 14 Prokofiev: Hamlet, Op. 77 (incidental music from the play) - Grave-Digger's Song 2:06 15 Prokofiev: Hamlet, Op. 77 (incidental music from the play) - Fanfares II, Forlinbras' March 3:40
Disc 2 1 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 44 - I. Moderato 12:26 2 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 44 - II. Andante 7:04 3 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 44 - III. Allegro agitato 7:25 4 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 44 - IV. Andante moso - Allegro moderato 5:54 5 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 4 in C major, Op. 112 - I. Andante - Allegro eroico 13:14 6 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 4 in C major, Op. 112 - II. Andante tranquillo 10:23 7 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 4 in C major, Op. 112 - III. Moderato, quasi allegretto 5:37 8 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 4 in C major, Op. 112 - IV. Allegro risoluto 9:07
