Renowned pianist Kirill Gerstein was in Armenia
At the launching of the Yerevan 8th International Music Festival (Artistic Directors – Alexander Chaushian and Eduard Topchjan) hosted by the “Aram Khachaturian” State Philharmonic Orchestra, among other works, Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 was played under the leadership of Topchjan by interpretation of an internationally renowned American-resident and Russian pianist Kirill Gerstein.
The pianist visiting Armenia for the second time, in the conversation with “Aravot”, expressed regret that he has not yet studied Komitas, otherwise, he would have delivered a surprise by presenting a musical composition by the forefather of the Armenian musical art. With a smile, he added that he would definitely implement it at his next visit. We asked the renowned orchestras and concert halls desired guest what place our Philharmonic Orchestra has in his dense tour schedule. Kirill Gerstein replied, “I have contacted with renowned orchestras a lot, but the Armenia Philharmonic Orchestra is among the few ensembles known to me, the musicians of which are not talking about business at all, at least the theme of my communication with them before and after the rehearsals is only about the music. Of course, I’m sure that it is coming from the maestro Topchjan. ”
The musician added that he is aware of the first brilliant performances of the APO in Rimini, Merano and Ravello cities of Italy. He also said that a number of well-known ensembles were invited to the festival concerts, including the London Philharmonic, Russia’s, France’s and Mexico’s national orchestras, Yuri Bashmet’s “Moscow Soloists” ensemble, Turin’s and Bergamo’s Philharmonic orchestras and so on. “I think that the 47th “Delle Natsioni” Italian Festival, which is always full of not only bands, but solo well-known soloist-musicians, singled out with performance of Armenian classical music,” said our interlocutor. We asked the pianist what “took” him to the USA once. Kirill Gerstein said that at the age of 14 he was moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music, jazz department. Only after graduating from the College, the latter studied the field of classical music in-depth at the New York, Madrid and Radoshitz (Budapest) prestigious musical institutions. “In Soviet years, for no reason, classical music was separated from jazz or popular and so on, while the music is a whole,” said our interlocutor. To our observation that it is usual in the West when the famous musician himself orders the composer a work… the pianist mentioned that the modern art of composing is so diverse in its directions that it is normal. Then, he illustrated just one example. “Three years ago, when he was awarded the Gilmore Artist Award and the Avery Fisher Career Grant, I ordered works to Oliver Knussen, Brad Mehldau and Chick Corea with the amount I received.” He detailed that the goal of any ordered work found in any musician’s repertoire is one – to become fully recognizable to the audience. And it becomes available by the music expressing personal taste, emotions and temperament.
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Samvel DANIELYAN
Photo by www.classica.fm
