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The problem of artistic manifestation, the possibility of manifestation itself
is one of the leading in arts for the last decades. It is especially acute felt
in music perhaps because of the fact that it is "congenial" to a man's nature
and by means of the harmony connects it with the whole world. Here is the reason
why musical talent may reach its maturity so early and powerfully and that
refers both to performing and to composition art.
Nikita Mndoyants, born in a family of professional musicians, began to play and
compose music very early: his first recital took place at the age of eight. By
the age of 14 - 15 Nikita had already felt that the abovementioned problem of
"manifestation" emerged before him. The situation was quite acute. On one hand,
we have a professional musician, a high level performer (at the age of nine
Nikita already played his first serious concert in the hall of Sibelius Academy
in Helsinki) on the other hand, the question is about a very young man and the
oeuvre problem for him is a matter of immediate and sincere experience. Nikita
is conscious of the fact that composition art since the seventies is in crisis,
however he feels the need to compose music, and he feels the music in him. What
way to choose, what should be assumed as a basis for a modern composer? How to
preserve the art succession, to continue the tradition and at the same time to
make your presence felt? These are the questions arising before Nikita Mndoyants
and other young musicians, who live in the epoch of accepted verdict that
musical art possibilities are broadly exhausted. Nikita refuses to follow those
composers who rejected creation of their own musical language by reason of its
incapacity (in their estimation), and at the same time he is far from being
affected by bright but void of informative basis originality.
Apart from Nikita’s own compositions, the disc contains a piano transcription of
the second movement (Scherzo) of Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony made by the musician
aged fifteen. The oeuvre of of this ingenious musician of the twentieth century
exerted its apparent influence on Nikita’s development as a composer. And
special attention should be paid to the fact that Prokofiev's influence led to
an understanding that the most important in music is not formal "extremes" but
the "medial", "midmost" way. The compositions by Nikita Mndoyants are
distinguished by this precocious peculiarity. On one hand we have the musician
of our time, a young man who suffered the influence of contemporary
post-modernist culture "force lines", and on the other hand he is a sincere
composer-romanticist, who preserves the tradition and tries to manifest himself
in a creative, new, not necessarily non-romantic musical epoch.
The compositions presented on the disc (Triptych on Evangelical fables, Quartet
for piano, clarinet, violin and cello, Piano sonata etc.) reflect abovementioned
peculiarities to the full extent: this is an approach in any case to overcome
that technical or professional "fatigue" that is so common for the contemporary
musical situation. Nikita Mndoyants has reliance upon the fact that sincere
musical manifestation is nevertheless possible today and what we may call
"human" and even more - "spiritual" nature of music could be achieved.
Leonid Karasev, Doctor of Philosophy
"His interpretation made a great impression from the very first sounds… His
delicate touche, a deep sonorous piano, beautiful and powerful forte, the
brilliant virtuosity... show a great talent of this seventeen-years-old
musician".
Bella Davidovich
"I heard Nikita's playing in February 2005 in Moscow for the first time. And the
next time was in Paris a year later. His artistic gift and virtuosity made a
great impression on me. Whatever he played - Bach, Prokofiev or his own works, -
the clarity of the musical idea became clear and bright because of his mastery
in control of sound. You could feel that it was not just a performer who was
playing, but an outstanding musician".
Bruno Monsaingeon, filmmaker and musician
"Nikita is a very thoughtful person. He does everything with a great
seriousness, intelligence, and deep comprehension… As a result, some very
interesting musical ideas appear; they express themselves in quite fresh
intonations or harmonies. Nikita's imagination is very mature. He feels strongly
and brightly everything he writes, finds precise musical expressions,
intonations, harmonies and impulses to intensify his images".
Alexander Tchaikovsky, composer
"Nikita Mndoyants is a real brilliant among contemporary talented young
musicians that I know well. He has a rare combination of creative and performers
gifts. His present achievements give us the hope that in the course of time he
will become an eminent figure who would represent with honor all our composers
and performers culture for the whole world".
Tikhon Khrennikov, composer
In January 2002, Nikita Mndoyants performed Concerto in E flat major by Ferenz
Liszt with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Ziva in the Great
Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire. This concerto is one of the most difficult
virtuoso works by Liszt. Nikita played it at the highest artistic and technical
level. At the time of the concert, the soloist was only twelve. Perhaps it was
the first case in the history of piano performing when this work was played in
public at this age.
Nikita Mndoyants was born on March 31, 1989 in the family of musicians. In 1995,
he entered Moscow Central Music School (class of Tamara Koloss). At the same
time, his composition gift disclosed itself. Since his second year at school, he
began to study composition in the class of professor Tatiana Tchudova.
In 2006, Nikita graduated from Central Music School with honors as a pianist and
composer. At the same year, he entered the Composition department of the Moscow
Tchaikovsky Conservatoire where he studies with professor Alexander Tchaikovsky.
As a pianist, he takes lessons from his father, a famous musician, professor of
the Moscow Conservatoire Alexander Mndoyants, who had important impact on
Nikita's musical development in the previous years.
He was a grant-holder of many international charity funds such as “New names”,
Vladimir Spivakov Fund, Nikolai Petrov Fund, “Russian Performing Art” Fund and
others.
During his studies at school, he won several national and international piano
and composition competitions.
At the age of 9, he played his first solo recital in Helsinki, in Jan Sibelius
Academy Concert Hall. The recital was recorded, and a CD was issued later. After
the recital in Helsinki, Nikita toured in many Russian cities and abroad: in
Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Latvia, Estonia, China, Switzerland, Israel,
France, and Ukraine.
Nikita took part in numerous music festivals, including "Musical Kremlin",
"Moscow Autumn", First and Second St.Petersburg Piano festivals, 14th Piano
Festival in Liepae (Latvia). In January 2003, he participated in music festival
dedicated to World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Nikita appears in the best concert halls of Moscow and St.Petersburg since the
age of 10, playing with Russia's most famous symphony orchestras, such as
Svetlanov State Academic Symphony orchestra (conducted by Felix Korobov) and St.
Petersburg Philharmony Academic Symphony orchestra conducted by Alexander
Sladkovsky. He played with many eminent conductors, among them - Eri Klas, Fedor
Gluschenko, Misha Rachlevsky, Murad Anna-mamedov, Svetlana Bezrodnaya, Valeri
Khalilov, Imants Resnis.
In 2004, he appeared with the famous Borodin Quartet, performing Quintet by
Dmitri Shostakovich.
On this CD, Nikita is represented not only as a pianist, but also as a composer.
His composer's debut took place when he was 8.
After hearing some of Nikita's works, Rodion Schedrin left an autograph on his
own scores: "To Nikita Mndoyants, believing in his successful musical future".
Important impact on Nikita's composer's gift was made by two composers -
Beethoven and Prokofiev. He never copies his favorite masters, but finds his own
style, his own language that corresponds with his time. His music has its
special energy that is characteristic of highly talented personalities.
On this CD, you can hear the compositions by Nikita Mndoyants written in
different periods: Variations on the theme of Belorussian song Perepelochka
(1999) Introduction and Fugue (2000). Both works among other Nikita's early
compositions were published by a Moscow Publishing House Composer.
Sonatina for cello and piano was written in 1999 and published in 2001 by the
same publishing house; it is dedicated to the memory of a talented pianist, a
pupil of Alexander Mndoyants - Alina Korshunova. She tragically died at the age
of 16, leaving a long bright memory in people's hearts with her wonderful art.
Sonatina was recorded in an ensemble with Evgeni Tonkha who was the first
performer of this work.
In 2006, Muzyka Publishing House published several Nikita's piano works, among
them - Variations on the author's theme, Triptych on Evangelical fables and
Piano sonata, also represented on this CD. In February 2003, Nikita became a
winner of the 7th Sergei Yesenin Young Russian composers Competition Rowan
Dreams in the nomination of spiritual work (he presented his Triptych) he was
also awarded a Diploma and a medal from the Moscow Danilov Monastery Spiritual
Young People's Center for the best embodiment of a spiritual and ethical theme
in music.
For his Piano sonata, he was awarded the First prize on a prestigious Russian
National Young composers competition Crystal camerton.
In the end of 2005, Nikita wrote his Quartet for piano, clarinet, violin and
cello as a diploma work in the chamber ensemble class. This composition had a
great success; within one month, it was performed seven times in different
concert halls of Moscow, including the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire.
The last work represented on this CD is a piano transcription of the Second
movement (Scherzo) from the Fifth Symphony by Sergei Prokofiev that Nikita made
at the age of 15; Sergei Prokofiev is a composer, whose works Nikita loved from
an early age.
© Classical
Records
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