<Translated from Russian automatically>
On December 23, 2019, the Grand Hall of the Conservatory will host a concert dedicated to the memory of A.F. Vedernikov. The date of the concert was not chosen by chance. December 23 is the birthday of the outstanding Russian singer, one of the most famous basses of the last century.
“It is quite difficult to speak about a person with whom you have been since the moment of your birth,” — says the famous conductor Alexander Alexandrovich Vedernikov about his father. “I owe him my understanding of painting, music, and literature. It wasn’t exactly that he 'raised' me in the traditional sense, but I grew up around him and drew a great deal from that. My father was a man of diverse interests—broad, powerful, and what people today call charismatic. He could have easily become an artist, a director, or even a composer under different circumstances, but… he became an opera singer and created many vivid characters on stage.”
The concert poster features a study for a remarkable portrait of Alexander Filippovich Vedernikov, painted by the famous artist Gennady Mosin. “I had a friend—the Sverdlovsk artist Gennady Mosin,” Alexander Filippovich used to say. “Once, I invited him to visit my dacha. At the time, he was painting a portrait of Sviridov. He was dissatisfied with his work and burned it in the stove. However, he had made many pencil drawings and sketches. Based on those drawings, he later carved Sviridov’s head out of marble. I was simply stunned by that portrait. Many people had sculpted him, but in my opinion, only Gennady Mosin managed to capture his true essence.”
Georgy Sviridov was a great friend of Alexander Vedernikov Sr. They shared a special creative rapport. Speaking of his elder friend, Alexander Filippovich always recalled the staggering power Sviridov’s music had over listeners. Naturally, the program for the evening of December 23 will include Sviridov’s music: "Small Triptych" and "Snow is Falling."
“My mother (Natalya Nikolaevna Gureeva, A.F. Vedernikov’s widow, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation and professor at the Moscow Conservatory) and I composed the program for this concert together,” says A.A. Vedernikov. “We intentionally excluded vocal numbers and performances by my father’s students. We wanted to present his image in a more generalized, holistic way.
It seemed important to us that Sviridov’s music be played, as Alexander Filippovich dedicated many years of his creative life to it. My father was close friends with Georgy Vasilyevich and spoke with him often; he had a profound influence on him—and on me as well.
The program also includes the Polovtsian Dances with chorus from the opera 'Prince Igor.' Borodin was one of my father’s favorite composers. He created an unforgettable portrayal of Konchak in 'Prince Igor,' as well as the role of Prince Galitsky.
Additionally, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 will be performed by my friend Nikolai Lugansky. My father held Kolya’s playing in very high regard. So, this becomes our joint offering—or, as they say now, an homage.”
Two choral groups will participate in the concert: the A.D. Kozhevnikov State Academic Moscow Regional Choir and the Bolshoi Theatre Children’s Choir.
Alexander Alexandrovich Vedernikov will take the podium to lead the Evgeny Svetlanov State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia.
Source.
On December 23, 2019, the Grand Hall of the Conservatory will host a concert dedicated to the memory of A.F. Vedernikov. The date of the concert was not chosen by chance. December 23 is the birthday of the outstanding Russian singer, one of the most famous basses of the last century.
“It is quite difficult to speak about a person with whom you have been since the moment of your birth,” — says the famous conductor Alexander Alexandrovich Vedernikov about his father. “I owe him my understanding of painting, music, and literature. It wasn’t exactly that he 'raised' me in the traditional sense, but I grew up around him and drew a great deal from that. My father was a man of diverse interests—broad, powerful, and what people today call charismatic. He could have easily become an artist, a director, or even a composer under different circumstances, but… he became an opera singer and created many vivid characters on stage.”
The concert poster features a study for a remarkable portrait of Alexander Filippovich Vedernikov, painted by the famous artist Gennady Mosin. “I had a friend—the Sverdlovsk artist Gennady Mosin,” Alexander Filippovich used to say. “Once, I invited him to visit my dacha. At the time, he was painting a portrait of Sviridov. He was dissatisfied with his work and burned it in the stove. However, he had made many pencil drawings and sketches. Based on those drawings, he later carved Sviridov’s head out of marble. I was simply stunned by that portrait. Many people had sculpted him, but in my opinion, only Gennady Mosin managed to capture his true essence.”
Georgy Sviridov was a great friend of Alexander Vedernikov Sr. They shared a special creative rapport. Speaking of his elder friend, Alexander Filippovich always recalled the staggering power Sviridov’s music had over listeners. Naturally, the program for the evening of December 23 will include Sviridov’s music: "Small Triptych" and "Snow is Falling."
“My mother (Natalya Nikolaevna Gureeva, A.F. Vedernikov’s widow, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation and professor at the Moscow Conservatory) and I composed the program for this concert together,” says A.A. Vedernikov. “We intentionally excluded vocal numbers and performances by my father’s students. We wanted to present his image in a more generalized, holistic way.
It seemed important to us that Sviridov’s music be played, as Alexander Filippovich dedicated many years of his creative life to it. My father was close friends with Georgy Vasilyevich and spoke with him often; he had a profound influence on him—and on me as well.
The program also includes the Polovtsian Dances with chorus from the opera 'Prince Igor.' Borodin was one of my father’s favorite composers. He created an unforgettable portrayal of Konchak in 'Prince Igor,' as well as the role of Prince Galitsky.
Additionally, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 will be performed by my friend Nikolai Lugansky. My father held Kolya’s playing in very high regard. So, this becomes our joint offering—or, as they say now, an homage.”
Two choral groups will participate in the concert: the A.D. Kozhevnikov State Academic Moscow Regional Choir and the Bolshoi Theatre Children’s Choir.
Alexander Alexandrovich Vedernikov will take the podium to lead the Evgeny Svetlanov State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia.
Source.
A concert in memory of the outstanding Russian bass Alexander Filippovich Vedernikov
"Tournée" Agency, ClassicalMusicNews.ru, November 28, 2019.
