Theater critic Vitaly Dmitrievsky died at the age of 91.

Vitaly Dmitrievsky, Doctor of Art History, theater critic, sociologist and teacher of GITIS, died at the age of 90. This was announced on November 19 by the university's press service.

"Vitaly Nikolaevich has been teaching at GITIS, at the Department of Production and Management of Performing Arts, for more than 20 years," the university's Telegram channel says.

Dmitrievsky organized a sociological laboratory at the Leningrad Institute of Theater in 1966, and in 1968 he created and headed the Sociology and Theater group, which analyzed the repertoire and audience preferences of the Leningrad theater. Since 1978, he has worked in Moscow, teaching at the State Institute of Art Studies, Higher Professional Development Courses and the Academy of Choral Art.

In 1999, Dmitrievsky joined GITIS, where he continued to teach theater sociology and supervise dissertations. Dmitrievsky also studied the legacy of Fyodor Chaliapin and wrote several books about him.

"Vitaly Nikolaevich combined the talent of a scientist and a pedagogical gift, he was strict but kind, orderly but inspired. He was a patient teacher, building bridges between history, art history, sociology, and pedagogy," the publication noted.

GITIS expressed its condolences to Dmitrievsky's family and all his relatives, friends, colleagues and students.

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