Mikhail Kollontay |
---|
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Mikhail_Kollontay.jpg/220px-Mikhail_Kollontay.jpg) |
|
Born | (1952-08-21) 21 August 1952 (age 71) Moscow, Russia
USSR |
---|
Occupation(s) | Composer, Pianist |
---|
Instrument(s) | Piano |
---|
Years active | 1971—present |
---|
|
Website |
www.kollontay.org |
---|
Musical artist
Mikhail Georgiyevich Kollontay (Russian: Михаи́л Гео́ргиевич Коллонта́й; born 21 August 1952 in
Moscow), Russian composer and pianist. Also known under his mother's name, Ermolaev.
His father, Georgiy Fyodorovich Kollontay (1897–1954), an artist, was sent to the
camps in 1938 (released in 1946,
rehabilitated posthumously); his mother, Ekaterina Ilyinichna Ermolaeva (1922–2001), was a
translator (English, modern
Greek). In 2022, Kollontay became citizen of
Republic of China.
[1]
In 1971 graduated from the Music College attached to the
Moscow Conservatory with a double major in piano and in theory/composition. In 1977 received his diploma in piano from the Moscow Conservatory, studying under Professor V. V. Gornostayeva; continued as her assistant in 1979. In 1978 earned his diploma in composition under Professor
A. S. Leman. From 1979 member of the
Union of Composers of the
USSR (
RF). Between 1979 and 2003 taught at the Moscow Conservatory (intermittently; first as an assistant to V. Gornostayeva; from 1982 as a faculty member), and, from 1989 to 1991, at the
Gnessin Musical Pedagogical Institute (special piano). Beginning in 1991, performed various duties at Moscow churches (
altar server,
choir singer, guard). Since 2003 professor (piano) at
Tainan National University of the Arts (
Taiwan, ROC.).
Among Mikhail Kollontay's students are: N. V. Moukhina, M. A. Soboleva, A. V. Sidenko, O. A. Tutova, Lin Yu-Ying (林藜洋(昱瑩)), Kao Pei-Hsin (高培馨), Shen Yu-Lin (沈妤霖), Huang Kuan-Che (黃冠哲), Chien Jay (鄭杰), Wang Yi-Hsing (王一幸),Bang-Shyuan Chen (陳邦玄)。
Kollontay's artistic style was formed under the influence of
Russian Church music (from childhood sang in church choirs), the tradition of
liturgical reading, the culture of early Russian singing and
folklore (worked in the
folk music department of the Moscow Conservatory; went on folklore expeditions). All this contributed to the liberation his
intonation and his rhythmic,
modal and compositional thinking, and to the formation of his own individual style. The following have performed Kollontay's works:
Yu. Bashmet,
A. Boreiko, N. Burnasheva, A. Golyshev, Schostakovich State Quartet,
E. Denisova (
Austria), K. Dillingham (USA), I. Zaydenshnir,
F. Cadena (Ecuador),
A. Kornienko (Austria), Jens E. Christensen (
Denmark),
E. Kuschnerova (Germany), A. Naumenko (UK), N. Privarskaya, E. Rastvorova,
M. Svetlov (USA), E. Serov, B. Tevlin, O. Tutova,
V. Fedoseyev, A. Fiseisky, S. Cherepanov (Germany), I. Chukovskaya, V. Chpiller (
Taiwan), A. Yakovlev (
Argentina), O. Yanovich (USA), and others.
Mariinsky Theatre performed The Captain’s Daughter opera by Kollontay in a concert version in 2016 for the first time.
[2]
- No 1 from the
Menaion: 22 February
- No 2 from the
Book of Job, 42 (Moisey Rizhsky’s and
Synodal translations)
-
op. 46 Feast for
mezzo-soprano,
bass, ballet or
pantomime and 15 performers on texts from
Menander’s comedy The Grumbler (2000)
-
op. 45 Second concerto for piano and orchestra (2008—2009; 2011)
-
op. 44 The Captain’s Daughter, scenes of Russian life based on
A.S. Pushkin's novel (opera) (1995–1998)
-
op. 42 Edited version of
A. Dargomyzhskiy’s opera The Stone Guest (produced in 1996,
Klagenfurt, Austria)
-
op. 41 Let This Cup Pass from Us, Russian military
Requiem for mixed chorus, symphony orchestra with organ, cello, soprano and bass solo on texts from
Eastern Orthodox Church services (1994—1995; 2019)
-
op. 39 Cadenzas for
W.A. Mozart’s Piano concerto in D major, KV 537 (1994)
-
op. 38 Cadenza for the first movement of W.A. Mozart's Piano concerto in A, KV 448 (1993—1994)
-
op. 37 Cadenza for the first movement of
L. van Beethoven’s Violin concerto op. 61 (1993)
-
op. 36 Children’s Songs, arrangement from
Tchaikovsky’s 16 Songs for Older Children on words by
A. Pleshcheyev and
K. Aksakov (op. 54 Nos. 35, 7—10, 13, 14, 16) for children's chorus and soprano or
tenor solo accompanied by string orchestra with
French horn and additional children's chorus (1989)
-
op. 35 The Feelings of an Evil-doer on Christmas Eve for cello and piano (1994)
-
op. 34a Ten Caprices on the Destruction of a Temple for violin (1994)
-
op. 34b Lament on the Fall of Saints for
English horn and
string quintet (1994)
-
op. 33 Ode of a Traitor for
flute and organ (1993)
-
op. 32 Ten Words by
Mussorgsky on the Death of Victor Hartmann for piano trio (1993)
-
op. 32bis
Deborah for soprano and piano trio on a biblical text (
Book of Judges, 4-5) (1998)
-
op. 31 Trumpet of Death for organ (1993)
-
op. 30 Partita-Testament for violin (1993)
-
op. 29 Blessed Citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom, 9
preludes for piano (1992)
-
op. 28 Six Biblical sonatas for violin and organ (1992)
-
op. 27 Play about Ten Lepers for mixed chorus, children's chorus, 10 soloists and
oboe (1991)
-
op. 25a Catechism, Third A symphony for full symphony orchestra (1987—1990)
-
op. 25b-I The Works of the Life, Third B symphony for full symphony orchestra, book 1: Endysis (2012—2014)
-
op. 25b-II The Works of the Life, Third B symphony for full symphony orchestra, book 2: Kerygma. The Hell (2014—2015)
-
op. 25b-III The Works of the Life, Third B symphony for full symphony orchestra, book 3: Diabasis (2015—2017)
-
op. 24 Diptych for children's chorus and piano on words by
E. Baratynsky (1974; 1988)
-
op. 22 Praise to the Most Holy Mother of God, 14 hymns (Second string quartet) (1988)
-
op. 21a Prolegomena, light pieces for piano (2014)
-
op. 20 Trio-Symphony for organ (1986)
-
op. 20 bis With an Order for Fresh Horses for Official Business for tenor and organ on words by
M. Lermontov (1987—1988)
-
op. 19b To the Dark Estuary, concerto for voice and
chamber orchestra on words by M. Lermontov and
N. Roubtsov (1979—1986)
-
op. 15 Beneath the Shade of the Bird Cherry Trees and the Acacias, small cantata for children's chorus and string orchestra with solo flute on words by
K. Batyushkov (1984)
-
op. 14a Sonata for solo violin (from
Psalm 17) (1978; 1980)
-
op. 14c Two Hymns and the Dance of
King David for 11 performers (1991)
-
op. 8 Concerto for viola and orchestra (1979—1980)
- op. 7 Eight Psalms Sonata for viola solo (1977)
-
op. 4 Four Little Summer Country Pictures for piano (1975)
-
op. 3 Eight Spiritual Symphonies for 3 violins, 3 violas and 3 cellos (1974–1975)
-
op. 2bis Seven Romantic Ballades for piano (1999—2000)
-
op. 1 Country Choruses for large mixed chorus and six soloists on words from Russian folk songs (1971—1973)
- “Four Little Summer Country Pictures” for piano, op. 4 //
Melodiya, 1980, “Young Moscow Composers perform their works.” C 10-15221-2. Performed by Mikhail Ermolaev (Kollontay) (piano)
- “From the Poetry of Ancient
Egypt.” Five romances for soprano and harp, op. 18 // Melodiya, 1982, “Vocal works of young Moscow composers.” C 10-17371-2. Performed by
Galina Pisarenko (soprano) and Olga Erdely (harp)
- Scherzino for piano, op. 11 // Melodiya, 1982, “Seventh International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition, Piano.” C 10-18099-100. Performed by Mikhail Ermolaev (Kollontay) (piano)
- Concerto for viola and orchestra, op. 8 // Melodiya, 1983, C 10-19429-007. Performed by Yury Bashmet (viola) and the
Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra conducted by
Vladimir Fedoseyev
- “Plantain”. Nine poems by
Nikolay Rubtsov for bass and piano, op. 10 // Melodiya, 1989, “Young composers of the
RSFSR.” C 10-28543-000. Performed by Mikhail Kroutikov (Svetlov) and Mikhail Ermolaev (Kollontay) (piano)
- “Beneath the Shade of the Bird Cherry Trees and the Acacias”, small cantata, op. 15 // Melodiya, 1987, C 50-26103-001. Performed by “Vesna” children's chorus and the instrumental ensemble of the Lithuanian State Chamber Orchestra conducted by Alexander Ponomaryov
- “Ten Words by Mussorgsky on the Death of Victor Hartmann” for piano trio, op. 32:
- EXTRAPLATTE EX 408-2, Austria, 1993. Performed by Elena Denisova (violin), Joseph Podgoransky (cello), Alexei Kornienko (piano)
- DEKA media DMCD014. Performed by Elena Denisova (violin), Joseph Podgoransky (cello), Alexei Kornienko (piano) (reedition)
- Caprice No. 7 from “Ten Caprices on the Destruction of a Temple” for violin, op. 34a // Elena Denisova: 13 Capricen, Co-Production Bayerischer Rundfunk / Talking Music 1005; Germany, 1996. Performed by Elena Denisova (violin)
- “Eight Spiritual Symphonies”, op. 3 (six symphonies) // Russian Disc. RD CD 10 004, US – Canada, 1996. Performed by soloists’ ensemble “Northern Crown,” Igor Zaydenshnir
- Concerto for viola and orchestra, op. 8 // FPRK Kuenstlerleben Foundation. Relief CR 991064, Switzerland, 1999. Performed by Yuri Bashmet (viola), Vladimir Fedoseev (conductor)
- “Partita-Testament” for violin, op. 30:
- Etcetera Record Company B.V. KTC 1236, Austria, 2000. Performed by Elena Denisova (violin)
- DEKA media DMCD009, 2015. Performed by Elena Denisova (violin) (reedition)
- “Children’s Songs” (arrangement from Tchaikovsky's “16 Songs for Children,” op. 36) // The Seasons. Magic Classics Series. Performed by “The Seasons of the Year” chamber orchestra, conductor V. Boulakhov; “Zviozdny” children's chorus, artistic director and conductor Raisa Mogilevskaya; Elena Voznesenskaya (soprano)
- “Blessed Citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom,” op. 29 // SteepleChase Productions ApS. Kontrapunkt 32339, Denmark, 2008. Performed by Mikhail Kollontay (piano)
- “Six Biblical sonatas,” op. 28 // SteepleChase Productions ApS. Kontrapunkt 32339, Denmark, 2008. Performed by Elena Denisova (violin), Jens E. Christensen (organ)
- “Seven Romantic Ballads”, op. 2bis:
- Ars Production, Schumacher, ARS 38484, Germany, 2008. Performed by Elena Kuschnerova (piano)
- Classical Records, CR 123, Russia, 2009. Performed by Irina Chukovskaya (piano)
- (two ballads) La musique russe du XIXe au XXIe siècle –
University Laval, 2008. Performed by Irina Chukovskaya (piano)
- “Agnus Dei” for violin and symphony orchestra, op. 48a // Classical Records, CR 149, Russia, 2012. Performed by Elena Denisova (violin), Moscow State Radio and Television Orchestra, Alexei Kornienko (conductor)
- “Ten Caprices on Destroying of the Temple” for violin, op. 34a // Classical Records, CR 149, Russia, 2012. Performed by Elena Denisova (violin)
- “The Day of the Lord” for symphony orchestra, op. 54 // Classical Records, CR 149, Russia, 2012. Performed by Moscow State Radio and Television Orchestra, Alexei Kornienko (conductor)
- Piano Concerto No. 2, op. 45 // Major, 2015. Performed by Elena Kuschnerova (piano), Moscow State Radio and Television Orchestra, Mikhail Kollontay (conductor)
- Violin Concerto 'Blue Ray', op. 61 // 2017 TYXart, Germany, TXA 17093. Performed by Elena Denisova (violin), Moscow State Radio and Television Orchestra, Alexei Kornienko (conductor)
- Viola Concerto, op. 8 // 2019 TYXart, Germany, TXA 19129. Performed by Nai-Yueh Chang (viola), Moscow State Radio and Television Orchestra, Alexei Kornienko (conductor)
- Piano Concerto No. 1 'White', op. 13 // 2019 TYXart, Germany, TXA 19129. Performed by Alexei Kornienko (piano), Moscow State Radio and Television Orchestra, Mikhail Kollontay (conductor)
The repertoire of Mikhail Kollontay includes:
“The Well-tempered Clavier” of
J.S. Bach (volumes 1 and 2; State Radio recordings 1978, 1992, 1995; “Russian Disc” 1991; 2002; 2018); late sonatas of
J. Haydn; sonatas of
W.A. Mozart; works of
L. van Beethoven (including op. 106, recordings of the State Radio 1983, 1992);
F. Chopin (four ballades, etudes op. 25, sonata in B-minor, etc.),
F. Liszt (
Sonata in B minor, "
Christmas Tree," etc.);
P.I. Tchaikovsky (Piano concerto No. 1, “The Seasons of the Year,” etc.); works of
M.I. Glinka (recording of the
All-Union Radio, 1986; SWR, Baden-Baden, Germany, 2001);
A.S. Dargomyzhsky (recording of the All-Union Radio, 1987);
M.A. Balakirev (CD, 1995, a Saison Russe Recording);
M.P. Mussorgsky (recording of all piano compositions, Moscow State Conservatory, 2000; recording of “Pictures at an Exhibition” and participation in a TV film dedicated to this composition, 1992, NHK, Japan);
Komitas; Yu.M.
Butsko (“Dythyramb” for piano and orchestra, “Melodiya” recording, 1989; Sonata in four fragments, All-Union Radio recording, 1983), B.A. Tchaikovsky, A.A. Bouzovkin, V.G. Arzoumanov, V.V. Ryabov (CD, 2007, Lighthouse).
Performs various solo programmes in Russia and abroad.
Also performed as an accompanist (to
E.E. Nesterenko, G.A. Pisarenko, A.M. Ablaberdyeva, N.I. Bournasheva, N.G. Gerasimova, A.P. Martynov, etc.) and in ensembles (with A. Belomestnov, I. Zaydenshnir, A. Melnikov, D. Potyomin).
Conducts performances of his own compositions.
Musical organizational activities
In 1989—1993 organized and headed the Creative Heritage Commission at the Union of Moscow Composers, which was engaged in preserving the archives of Moscow composers (among those saved are the archives of M. Raukhverger, M. Magidenko, N. Rakov, A. Balashov). Initiated the “Heritage” musical meetings (1990) and chaired the organizing committee. Prepared and presented the 15-hour broadcasts, “The Day of M.I. Glinka’s Music” and “The Day of A.S. Dargomyzhsky’s Music,”
“Orpheus” radio station programmes on
S.I. Taneyev,
G. Enescu,
E.G. Gilels, M.A. Balakirev, V.B. Dovgan, N.N. Chargeishvili, A.S. Karamanov, Yu.M. Butsko, and others.
Compiler, editor and author of the introduction and comments to the edition: M. Glinka. Piano Compositions / Russian Piano Music, 2. Moscow: “Muzyka,” 1987 (under the pseudonym E. Nosenko).
Has a number of publications in various Russian musicological journals.
-
S. Savenko. Kollontay (Yermolayev), Mikhail Georgiyevich // The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. – London, N.Y., 2001. – Vol. 13. – pp. 758–759.
- I. Karpinskij. Kollontaj, Ermolaev, Michail Georgievič // Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. – Stuttgart: Bärenreiter, Kassel, 2003. – Personenteil 10. – S. 463.
- A. Amrakhova. M. Kollontay. Comprehension of the style (
Russian:
М. Коллонтай. Постижение стиля) // Muzykalnaya Akademia, 2012 No. 4 (7040). – pp. 21–32. (in Russian)
|
---|
International | |
---|
National | |
---|
Artists | |
---|