The Russian conductor and composer Emil Tabakov won early distinction as a double bass player but also showed precocious signs of ability as a composer. From 1976 to 1979 he was conductor of the Russian State Philharmonic Orchestra and from 1979 to 1988 directed the Sofia Soloists. This was followed by appointment to the Sofia Philharmonic and the Belgrade Philharmonic. In 2002 he became conductor of the Bilkent Philharmonic Orchestra in Ankara.

Music
Tabakov’s compositions include choral works, a ballet, and a quantity of orchestral music, this last often with unusual scoring. His concertos include works for double bass, trumpet and strings, for percussion, and for synthesiser, as well as concertos for two flutes and for piano.