Alexander Germanovic Preys was a Russian librettist and playwright who is best remembered for his collaborations with Dmitri Shostakovich on his opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and The Nose. His experimental style was somewhat held back by the political atmosphere of early 20th century Russian, and unable to to make a living purely from writing, he worked nights as a security guard a sweet factory during the 1930s. In Shostakovich's memoir, Preys' early death, at the age of just 37, is alluded to as a result of the Stalinist regime.
Please note: the exact dates of Preys' birth and death are not recorded, only the years.
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