Boris Tishchenko (born in 1939) belongs to the galaxy of the most prominent modern composers in Russia. His creations — both orchestral and chamber ones — are distinct for profundity, rebellious spirit, elaborated symphonic conceptions. His thematic material is used to be mostly unambiguous and vivid, being led to extensive mighty zeniths and explosive apexes. Boris Tishchenko’s creative process is intensive indeed. He is the author of more than 140 opuses, including seven enumerated symphonies, four entitled symphonies (“The French”, “The Pushkin Symphony”, “Robusta”, “The Blockade Chronicle”, “Requiem” to the verses by Anna Akhmatova , concertos for different instrumental casts, ballet “Yaroslavna”, “Twelve O’Clock”, “Fly the Clatterer”, choreo-symphonic cycliade “Beatrice”, ten piano sonatas, sonatas for the strings, quartets, vocal cycles. The choreo-symphonic cycliade “Beatrice” is the unique composition for the world concert practice. This is a large-scaled canvas of the ballet genre based on Dante’s “La Divina Commedia” lasting for three hours and 13 minutes, consisting of five complete symphonies. Every symphony is provided with clear programme. The first one describes Dante’s existence on the Earth, the second and third ones embody infernal circles, the fourth one is purgatory and the fifth one is the paradise. The composer worked over it during the period of 1996–2005. The symphonies are quite independent, being suitable for separate performing. The Second Dante-symphony was undergoing its premi?re in the Petersburg Philharmonic Grand Hall on May 8, 2001. The Academic Symphony Orchestra conducted by N. Alekseyev performed it at the 37th International Festival “Petersburg Music Spring”.Svetlana Nesterova