Mikhail Kollontay
Encyclopedia
Mikhail Georgiyevich Kollontay , Russian composer and pianist. Also known under his mother’s name, Ermolaev.
His father, Georgiy Fyodorovich Kollontay (1891—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
).
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. Toutova, Shen Yu-Lin, Kao Pei-Hsin, Lin Yu-Ying, and Chien Jay.
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, N. Gerasimova, A. Golyshev, Schostakovich State Quartet, E. Denisova (Austria
), K. Dillingham (USA), I. Zaydenshnir, A. Kornienko (Austria), Jens E. Christensen (Denmark
), E. Kushnerova (Germany), A. Naumenko (UK), E. Rastvorova, M. Svetlov (USA), E. Serov, B. Tevlin, O. Toutova, V. Fedoseyev
, A. Fiseisky, S. Cherepanov (Germany), I. Chukovskaya, V. Spiller (Taiwan
), A. Yakovlev (Argentina
), O. Yanovich (USA), and others.
of J.S. Bach (volumes 1 and 2; State Radio recordings 1978, 1992, 1995; “Russian Disc” 1991); 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 № 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. Boutsko (“Dythyramb” for piano and orchestra, “Melodiya” recording, 1989; Sonata in four fragments, All-Union Radio recording, 1983), B.P. 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.
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).
His father, Georgiy Fyodorovich Kollontay (1891—1954), an artist, was sent to the camps
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
in 1938 (released in 1946, rehabilitated
Rehabilitation (Soviet)
Rehabilitation in the context of the former Soviet Union, and the Post-Soviet states, was the restoration of a person who was criminally prosecuted without due basis, to the state of acquittal...
posthumously); his mother, Ekaterina Ilyinichna Ermolaeva (1922—2001), was a translator (English, modern Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
).
Biography
In 1971 graduated from the Music College attached to the Moscow ConservatoryMoscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
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
Albert Leman
Albert Semionovich Leman , — 3 December 1998, Moscow ) was a Russian and Soviet composer of classical music.Albert Leman received his music education in the Leningrad Conservatory under Michail Fabianowitsch Gnessin and Vladimir Vladimirovich Nil'sen. In 1941-42 he was the chief of musical...
. From 1979 member of the Union of Composers
Union of Soviet Composers
The USSR Union of Composers or Union of Composers of the USSR , , was a professional organisation of composers in the Soviet Union...
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
Gnessin State Musical College
The Gnessin State Musical College and Gnessin Russian Academy of Music is a prominent music school in Moscow, Russia...
(special piano). Beginning in 1991, performed various duties at Moscow churches (altar server
Altar server
An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian religious service. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell and so on....
, choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
singer, guard). Since 2003 professor (piano) at Tainan
Tainan
Tainan City is a city in southern Taiwan. It is the fifth largest after New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. It was formerly a provincial city, and in 2010, the provincial city merged with the adjacent Tainan County to form a single special municipality. Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in...
National University of the Arts (Taiwan, ROC
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.).
Among Mikhail Kollontay’s students are: N. V. Moukhina, M. A. Soboleva, A. V. Sidenko, O. A. Toutova, Shen Yu-Lin, Kao Pei-Hsin, Lin Yu-Ying, and Chien Jay.
Composition
Kollontay’s artistic style was formed under the influence of Russian Church music (from childhood sang in church choirs), the tradition of liturgicalLiturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
reading, the culture of early Russian singing and folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
(worked in the folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
department of the Moscow Conservatory; went on folklore expeditions). All this contributed to the liberation his intonation
Intonation (music)
Intonation, in music, is a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously.-Interval, melody, and harmony:...
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
Yuri Bashmet
Yuri Abramovich Bashmet is a Russian conductor and violist.Direct patrilineal descendant of Besht.-Biography:Yuri Bashmet was born on 24 January 1953 in Rostov-on-Don in the family of Abram Borisovich Bashmet and Maya Zinovyeva Bashmet . "Father's mother, Tsilya Efimovna, studied singing at the...
, A. Boreiko, N. Burnasheva, N. Gerasimova, A. Golyshev, Schostakovich State Quartet, E. Denisova (Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
), K. Dillingham (USA), I. Zaydenshnir, A. Kornienko (Austria), Jens E. Christensen (Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
), E. Kushnerova (Germany), A. Naumenko (UK), E. Rastvorova, M. Svetlov (USA), E. Serov, B. Tevlin, O. Toutova, V. Fedoseyev
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Vladimir Ivanovich Fedoseyev is a Russian conductor.Fedoseyev graduated from the Gnessin State Musical College 1957, and Moscow Conservatory 1972. From 1974 artistic director and chief conductor of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio 1974-1999. He has also served as principal...
, A. Fiseisky, S. Cherepanov (Germany), I. Chukovskaya, V. Spiller (Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
), A. Yakovlev (Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
), O. Yanovich (USA), and others.
Selected works
- op. 60 Fourth symphony ("Uncompleted"), for full symphony orchestra (2010—2011)
- op. 59 “To the New Martyrology,” five compositions for organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
(2009—2010) - op. 58 “Ivan” for bass and six trumpets (2009)
- op. 56 “Pages Torn from a Book of ConfessionConfessionThis article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
s” for wind quintetWind quintetA wind quintet, also sometimes known as a woodwind quintet, is a group of five wind players . The term also applies to a composition for such a group....
(2007—) - op. 55 “Etudes” for piano (2006—2007)
- op. 54 “The Lord’s Day” for full symphony orchestra (2005—2006)
- op. 53 “Selected ExapostilariaExapostilarionThe Exapostilarion is a hymn or group of hymns chanted in the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches at the conclusion of the Canon near the end of Matins...
and Photagogika” for monophonicMonophonyIn music, monophony is the simplest of textures, consisting of melody without accompanying harmony. This may be realized as just one note at a time, or with the same note duplicated at the octave . If the entire melody is sung by two voices or a choir with an interval between the notes or in...
performance (2004—) - op. 52 “Eight Odes” for cello (2003—2004)
- op. 51 “Idyll” for Celtic harp (2004)
- op. 50 “The House of the Lord,” oratorioOratorioAn oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
for male chorus, string orchestraString orchestraA string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
with organ ad libitumAd libitumAd libitum is Latin for "at one's pleasure"; it is often shortened to "ad lib" or "ad-lib"...
, violin and reader on biblical texts (Book of IsaiahBook of IsaiahThe Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve...
) (2004) - op. 50 bis “Prophecy” for contrabassContrabassContrabass refers to a musical instrument of very low pitch; generally those pitched one octave below instruments of the bass register...
accompanied by six contrabasses (2004) - op. 48a “Agnus DeiAgnus Dei (liturgy)In the Mass of the Roman Rite and also in the Eucharist of the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church, and the Western Rite of the Orthodox Church the Agnus Dei is the invocation to the Lamb of God sung or recited during the fraction of the Host...
” for violin and full symphony orchestra (2000—2001) - op. 47 “Two Prayers” for sopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
and piano (2000):
-
- № 1, words from the MenaionMenaionThe Menaion refers to the annual fixed cycle of services in the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches. Commemorations in the Menaion are tied to the day of the calendar year.-Service books:...
for February 22, - № 2 according to the Book of JobBook of JobThe Book of Job , commonly referred to simply as Job, is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It relates the story of Job, his trials at the hands of Satan, his discussions with friends on the origins and nature of his suffering, his challenge to God, and finally a response from God. The book is a...
, 42 (Moses Rizhskiy’s and Synodal translationsRussian Synodal BibleRussian Synodal Bible is a Russian non-Church Slavonic translation of the Bible commonly used by the Russian Orthodox Church, Russian Baptists and other Protestant, as well as Roman Catholic communities in Russia....
)- op. 46 “Feast” for mezzo-sopranoMezzo-sopranoA mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
, bassBass (voice type)A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
, ballet or pantomimePantomimePantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
and 15 performers on texts from MenanderMenanderMenander , Greek dramatist, the best-known representative of Athenian New Comedy, was the son of well-to-do parents; his father Diopeithes is identified by some with the Athenian general and governor of the Thracian Chersonese known from the speech of Demosthenes De Chersoneso...
’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 novelThe Captain's DaughterThe Captain's Daughter is a historical novel by the Russian writer Alexander Pushkin. It was first published in 1836 in the fourth issue of the literary journal Sovremennik. The novel is a romanticized account of Pugachev's Rebellion in 1773-1774....
(opera) (1995–1998) - op. 42 Edited version of A. DargomyzhskiyAlexander DargomyzhskyAlexander Sergeyevich Dargomyzhsky was a 19th century Russian composer. He bridged the gap in Russian opera composition between Mikhail Glinka and the later generation of The Five and Tchaikovsky....
’s opera “The Stone Guest” (produced in 1996, KlagenfurtKlagenfurt-Name:Carinthia's eminent linguists Primus Lessiak and Eberhard Kranzmayer assumed that the city's name, which literally translates as "ford of lament" or "ford of complaints", had something to do with the superstitious thought that fateful fairies or demons tend to live around treacherous waters...
, Austria) - op. 41 “Let This Cup Pass from Us,” Russian military RequiemRequiemA Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...
for mixed chorus, symphony orchestra with organ, cello, soprano and bass solo on texts from Orthodox Church services (1994—1995) - 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. AksakovKonstantin AksakovKonstantin Sergeyevich Aksakov was a Russian critic and writer, one of the earliest and most notable Slavophiles. He wrote plays, social criticism, and histories of the ancient Russian social order...
(op. 54 Nos. 35, 7—10, 13, 14, 16) for children’s chorus and soprano or tenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
solo accompanied by string orchestra with French horn and additional children’s chorus (1989) - op. 35 “The Feelings of a 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 quintetString quintetA string quintet is a musical composition for a standard string quartet supplemented by a fifth string instrument, usually a second viola or a second cello , but occasionally a double bass. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who favoured addition of a viola, is considered a pioneer of the form...
(1994) - op. 33 “Ode of a Traitor” for fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
and organ (1993) - op. 32 “Ten Words by MussorgskyModest MussorgskyModest Petrovich Mussorgsky was a Russian composer, one of the group known as 'The Five'. He was an innovator of Russian music in the romantic period...
on the Death of Victor Hartmann” for piano trio(1993) - op. 32bis “DeborahDeborahDeborah was a prophetess of Yahweh the God of the Israelites, the fourth Judge of pre-monarchic Israel, counselor, warrior, and the wife of Lapidoth according to the Book of Judges chapters 4 and 5....
” for soprano and piano trio on a biblical text (Book of JudgesBook of JudgesThe Book of Judges is the seventh book of the Hebrew bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its title describes its contents: it contains the history of Biblical judges, divinely inspired prophets whose direct knowledge of Yahweh allows them to act as decision-makers for the Israelites, as...
, 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 preludePreludePrelude may refer to:*Sheaffer Prelude, a series of fountain pens, ballpoints and rollerball pens made by the Sheaffer Pen company*Prelude , a musical form*Prelude , an English based folk band...
s 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 oboeOboeThe oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
(1991) - op. 25a “Catechism,” Third symphony for full symphony orchestra (1987—1990)
- 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. 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. LermontovMikhail LermontovMikhail Yuryevich Lermontov , a Russian Romantic writer, poet and painter, sometimes called "the poet of the Caucasus", became the most important Russian poet after Alexander Pushkin's death in 1837. Lermontov is considered the supreme poet of Russian literature alongside Pushkin and the greatest...
(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. BatyushkovKonstantin BatyushkovKonstantin Nikolayevich Batyushkov was a Russian poet, essayist and translator of the Romantic era.-Biography:The early years of Konstantin Batyushkov's life are difficult to reconstruct...
(1984) - op. 14a Sonata for solo violin (from Psalm 17Psalm 17- Key Thoughts and Phrases :* David expresses his assurance in v.1 of unfeigned lips, v.3 that his heart has withstood testing; v.15 that he shall behold the Face of God after death in righteousness....
) (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 Sonata "Eight Psalms" (Восемь псалмов) 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)
- op. 46 “Feast” for mezzo-soprano
- № 1, words from the Menaion
On LPs
- “Four Little Summer Country Pictures” for piano, op. 4 // MelodiyaMelodiyaMelodiya is a Russian record label. It was the state-owned major record company/label of the Soviet Union.-History:It was established in 1964 as the "All-Union Gramophone Record Firm of the USSR Ministry of Culture Melodiya"...
, 1980, “Young Moscow Composers perform their works.” C 10-15221-2. Performed by Mikhail Ermolaev (Kollontay) (piano) - “From the Poetry of Ancient EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.” 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 FedoseyevVladimir FedoseyevVladimir Ivanovich Fedoseyev is a Russian conductor.Fedoseyev graduated from the Gnessin State Musical College 1957, and Moscow Conservatory 1972. From 1974 artistic director and chief conductor of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio 1974-1999. He has also served as principal...
- “Plantain”. Nine poems by Nikolay RubtsovNikolay RubtsovNikolay Mikhaylovich Rubtsov was a Russian poet.He was killed by the woman with whom he spent the last one and a half years of his life.Asteroid 4286 Rubtsov was named after him.-External links:* *...
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
On CDs
- “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)
- 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, USA – 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)
- “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)
Performance activities
The repertoire of Mikhail Kollontay includes: “The Well-tempered Clavier”The Well-Tempered Clavier
The Well-Tempered Clavier , BWV 846–893, is a collection of solo keyboard music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach...
of J.S. Bach (volumes 1 and 2; State Radio recordings 1978, 1992, 1995; “Russian Disc” 1991); late sonatas of J. Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
; sonatas of W.A. Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
; works of L. van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
(including op. 106, recordings of the State Radio 1983, 1992); F. Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
(four ballades, etudes op. 25, sonata in B-minor, etc.), F. Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
(sonata in B minor, “Christmas Tree,” etc.); P.I. Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
(Piano concerto № 1, “The Seasons of the Year,” etc.); works of M.I. Glinka
Mikhail Glinka
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka , was the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition within his own country, and is often regarded as the father of Russian classical music...
(recording of the All-Union Radio, 1986; SWR, Baden-Baden, Germany, 2001); A.S. Dargomyzhsky
Alexander Dargomyzhsky
Alexander Sergeyevich Dargomyzhsky was a 19th century Russian composer. He bridged the gap in Russian opera composition between Mikhail Glinka and the later generation of The Five and Tchaikovsky....
(recording of the All-Union Radio, 1987); M.A. Balakirev
Mily Balakirev
Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev ,Russia was still using old style dates in the 19th century, and information sources used in the article sometimes report dates as old style rather than new style. Dates in the article are taken verbatim from the source and therefore are in the same style as the source...
(CD, 1995, a Saison Russe Recording); M.P. Mussorgsky
Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky was a Russian composer, one of the group known as 'The Five'. He was an innovator of Russian music in the romantic period...
(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
Komitas Vardapet
In 1950s his manuscripts were also transferred from Paris to Yerevan.Badarak was first printed in 1933 in Paris and first recorded onto a digital media in 1988 in Yerevan. In collecting and publishing so many folk songs, he saved the cultural heritage of Western Armenia that otherwise would have...
; Yu.M. Boutsko (“Dythyramb” for piano and orchestra, “Melodiya” recording, 1989; Sonata in four fragments, All-Union Radio recording, 1983), B.P. 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
Yevgeny Nesterenko
Yevgeny Nesterenko is a renowned Russian operatic bass.Nesterenko's first profession was architecture, graduating from the Engineering and Construction Institute in Leningrad. But he was called to music, and he studied under Vasily Lukanin at the Leningrad Conservatory...
, 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 stationRadio Orfey
Radio Orphey is a Russian radio station broadcasting classical music from central studios in Moscow...
programmes on S.I. Taneyev
Sergei Taneyev
Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev , was a Russian composer, pianist, teacher of composition, music theorist and author.-Life:...
, G. Enescu
George Enescu
George Enescu was a Romanian composer, violinist, pianist, conductor and teacher.-Biography:Enescu was born in the village of Liveni , Dorohoi County at the time, today Botoşani County. He showed musical talent from early in his childhood. A child prodigy, Enescu created his first musical...
, E.G. Gilels
Emil Gilels
Emil Grigoryevich Gilels was a Soviet pianist, widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.His last name is sometimes transliterated Hilels.-Biography:...
, 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).
Awards
- Best accompanist Award at the Glinka All-Union Singers’ Competition in TallinnTallinnTallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
(1979) - First Prize at the All-Union Piano Competition (1981, TashkentTashkentTashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
) - D.D. ShostakovichDmitri ShostakovichDmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
Prize (for Viola concerto, 1981) - Diploma at the 7th International Tchaikovsky Piano CompetitionInternational Tchaikovsky CompetitionThe International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow, Russia for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 30 years of age, and singers between 19 and 32 years of age...
(1982; also awarded the Special Prize for performing Tchaikovsky’s compositions). - Pushkin Gold medal (1999).
Further reading
- 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.
External links
- Official site. Scores and recordings are available.
- O. Tutova. Mikhail Kollontay (Ermolaev). Portrait of a Musician. Abstract of PhD Dissertation… Candidate of Art History. Moscow: Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, 2009. (in Russian)
- Mikhail Kollontay: jury member of the Concours Musical International de Montréal (2004)
- “Thank You, Music…”. Documentary about the 7-th Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition (Central Documentary Archive, 1982), in the Digital Documentary Archive (Russian). In Part 4 of the film there is an excerpt of M. Kollontay’s performance and an interview.