Nikita Bogoslovsky, Soviet-era composer

MOSCOW -- Soviet-era composer Nikita Bogoslovsky, who wrote more than 300 musical scores, has died, according to Russian news reports yesterday. He was 90.

His wife, Alla Sivashova-Bogoslovskaya, told the ITAR-Tass news agency that her husband died overnight.

Mr. Bogoslovsky composed music for 120 films and 80 shows, becoming one of the Soviet Union's most beloved composers, ITAR-Tass said.

During World War II, he gave concerts near the front lines and at military hospitals. Among his most famous compositions were "Dark Night" and "I Dreamed of You for Three Years."

"His songs represent the history of our country," Vladislav Kazenin, chairman of the Union of Composers, told ITAR-Tass. "They expressed all the feelings, cares and aspirations of our people."

President Vladimir Putin also expressed condolences, the Kremlin said.