Vladimir Selivoknin (23.04.1946 - 08.02.2015)
Among the outstanding contemporary pianists - Honored artist of Russia, Professor Vladimir Selivokhin is the largest representative of the Russian Romantic Piano School. His work is a continuation of the best traditions of Russian pianism and, at the same time, the discovery of his direction in art, is a unique phenomenon in the world of music.
A brilliant victory at the International Competition Feruccio Busoni in 1968, in Bolzano, Italy (1st prize) marked the beginning of the rapid ascent of the pianist to the Olympus of musical art.
Vladimir Selivokhin has performed in major concert halls in the world. He toured in many cities of Russia, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Holland, Japan, Mexico, Romania, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus and other countries. For 30 years, he was applauded by the regulars of the Great hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Concert hall. P. I. Tchaikovsky, the Concert hall "Russia", etc.
Vladimir Selivokhin was accompanied by such world-famous orchestras as Santa Cecilia in Rome, the orchestra of the Teatro Alla Scala in Milan, the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, the orchestra of the Berlin Philharmonic, the state Orchestra of the USSR, the big Symphony orchestra of radio and TV and others.
Among the conductors with whom Maestro had to cooperate, famous musicians from around the world - D. Kitaenko, S. Sandetskis, Yu. Domarkas, Yu. Simonov, V. Fedoseev, Arvid Jansons, Mariss Jansons, V. Dudarova, F. Osterreicher, F. Reger, Herrara de La Fuente, N. Rakhlin, B. Khaykin, F. Mansurov, B. Temirkanov, Peter Maag, D. Westerfeld, P. Frank, and others.
In 1996, the Russian Cultural Foundation awarded Maestro international award "Bronze Bear" for outstanding merits in development of the Russian Piano School. In 2007, the pianist was awarded the order of Unity Of the United Nations for «Acts for the benefit of peoples». Earlier Selivokhin was awarded the Medal of Arturo Toscanini, which he received from the hands of the daughter of a brilliant musician Wally Toscanini and the Order of Friendship of Peoples.
Vladimir Selivokhin established and headed the Department of Music and Performing Arts at the State Academy of Slavic Culture.
Pianistic brilliance and scale of performance of Vladimir Selivokhin never came to the fore, to the detriment of the internal content of the work, and always subordinated to the main task - the most complete and deep disclosing of a figurative intention of the piece. The musician at the same time characteristic lyricism and epic scale, focus, depth of emotions and vivid artistic temperament, earnest performance.
Solo programs by Selivokhin are striking in their breadth and diversity. With much love, Vladimir has performed music by Sergei Rachmaninoff, a composer with whom he felt a special inner connection. At the Rachmaninoff music festivals organized and conducted by the pianist in Moscow - in the hall Of the Church cathedrals of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, cities of Russia and abroad, the musician performed at two evenings in a row all piano concerts and Rhapsody on the theme of Paganini for piano with the orchestra of the great Russian composer, treating them as a single dramatic cycle. There are no analogues of this in the world of musical performing practice. "In the concerts of Rachmaninoff's the source of all the tragic history of 20th century Russia" - the words of Vladimir Selivokhin.
During the last tour of the pianist in Italy, where he simultaneously took part in the Jury of the anniversary competition feruccio Busoni, the newspaper wrote: "We have never heard such Rachmaninoff. The Moscow Maestro proved to be a world-class pianist, an outstanding representative of the Russian Piano School."
According to world critics:
"Vladimir Selivokhin belongs to the cohort of the best pianists in the world. The voice of his instrument is a voice that goes from soul to soul"
(Union Sarda, Italy)
"Piano art of Vladimir Selivokhin without exaggeration can be called poetry ‒ clear and clean without unnecessary effects"
(Aalto Adige, Italy)
"This independent-minded pianist with phenomenal technique is filled with a deep feeling that manifests itself in all aspects of his virtuoso interpretations. However, he remains full of simplicity and naturalness"
(Chusi Suomi, Finland)
