Zolotonos Nikolai (Yehezkel) Yakovlevich (21.04.1914, Riga – 18.06.1987, Riga) — composer, musical and public figure.

In 1931–33 Nikolai Zolotonos studied at the Higher Academic School of Music in Berlin, specializing in piano, theory, and composition. In 1934 worked as conductor at the Riga Jewish Theater. In 1935 graduated externally from the Latvian Conservatory (piano). In 1937–38 studied at the University of Toulouse (France).

Before 1940 he performed in Riga as a concert pianist and appeared on radio programs in Lithuania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and France. In 1940–41 was head of music and conductor of the Riga Jewish Theater.

During World War II (1942–45) Nikolai Zolotonos served as bandmaster of a divisional military orchestra; awarded medals and the Order of the Red Star.

From 1945 to 1950 he worked as senior inspector and later as head of the Department of Music Institutions of the Administration for the Arts under the Council of Ministers of the Latvian SSR. In 1950–51 was conductor at the Riga Theater of Musical Comedy, and from 1951 deputy director of the Latvian SSR Opera and Ballet Theater. In 1954 became music editor at the Riga Film Studio.

From 1956 he was a member of the board of the Union of Soviet Composers of the Latvian SSR. Honored Artist of the Latvian SSR (1967).

Works: Music for productions of the Riga Jewish Theater (1930s); the musical comedy When Adam is on Vacation (1958/59); the operetta Ah, Poor Heart (1971/72); compositions for wind orchestra (including marches); piano miniatures (1970); a cycle of children’s pieces (1971); songs, including popular and art songs, romances; arrangements of folk melodies; film scores.

Literature:

Padomju Latvijas mūzikas darbinieki. Riga, 1965, pp. 639–641
L. Karklin. Composers and Musicologists of Soviet Latvia. Riga, 1974, pp. 101–102

L. Furmane (comp.). Latvian Composers and Musicologists. Riga, 1989, p. 170