Lev Kontorovich & Masters of Choral Singing
Biography Lev Kontorovich & Masters of Choral Singing
Lev Kontorovich
After graduating from the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 1969 with honors, where he studied choral conducting with Klavdy Ptitsa, symphony orchestra conducting with Leo Ginsburg and orchestration with Alfred Shnittke. Lev Kontorovich`s first steps at his artistic career had shown him as a bright, talented musician with a wide musical outlook conductor and teacher.
The active work of Lev Kontorovich in the Moscow Choral School named after Alexander Sveshnikov has continued for 30 years and then he created on the basis of the Academy of Choral Art named after Victor Popov. Since 1996 he was professor, and since 2012 — Head of the Department of Contemporary Choir of the Moscow Conservatory of the Performing Arts. His students are working successfully in choirs, musical theaters and educational institutions of Russia and abroad.
Lev Kontorovich has produced many concert programs, which include choral works of different eras and styles, spiritual music.
Lev Kontorovich participated in international festivals of music by J.S. Bach in Germany, the International Festival of boys’ choirs in Grasse (France), Poznan (Poland), the European Festival of Orthodox Music dedicated to the 1000th anniversary of the Christening of Russia (Moscow, Germany, France, Luxembourg), European Symposium on Choral Music in Ljubljana (Slovenia).
In 1997 he founded the Chamber choir «Spiritual Revival» of the Moscow State Institute of Music named after Alfred Schnittke.
In 2005 Lev Kontorovich was appointed the artistic director of the Grand Choir “Masters of Choral Singing” of The Russian State TV and Radio Music Centre. The name itself — “Masters of Choral Singing” — determined the professionalism, high level of performance, exceptional speed and versatility of the team, where each artist can act as a member of the choir and as a soloist.
The Grand Choir “Masters of Choral Singing” governed by Lev Kontorovich participated in the grand festivals such as “Autumn International choral festival named after Professor Boris Tevlin” (2012–2014), “To the 80th anniversary of Rodion Shchedrin” (2012), “Dedicated to a Victory Day” (2013); projects “And are together again!” – festive musical evening dedicated to the reunification of the Crimea and Russia, with the support of the Russian President Vladimir Putin (2014); “Conducted by Vladimir Jurowski and stories” (2014–2015). as a conductor Lev Kontorovich performed Requiem by Verdi, Bach’s Mass in B Minor (in conjunction with National Philharmonic of Russia, artistic director Vladimir Spivakov), “Petite Messe Solennelle” by Rossini (2014), Russian liturgy of Rodion Shchedrin “The Sealed Angel” (2015), Anniversary festival “85 years of The Grand Choir “Masters of Choral Singing” and others.
Grand Choir is a permanent member of the Moscow Christmas Festival of Sacred Music (Artistic directors Vladimir Spivakov and Metropolitan Hilarion) and the Moscow Easter Festival by Valery Gergiev.
In 2008 and 2012 the Grand Choir participated in the inauguration of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, and in 2014 –in a gala concert of the Summit of Heads of Caspian States (Astrakhan).
In 2013 Lev Kontorovich became artistic director of the All-Russian workshop “National Youth Choir” of students of higher and secondary educational institutions of Russia.
In 2013 Lev Kontorovich organized a creative meeting – a master class with the founder of the International Bach Academy Helmuth Rilling (Stuttgart, Germany).
In 2014 he took part in “1st International competition of choral conductors named after Boris Tevlin” as a Vice-Chairman of the Jury (Chairman – world-famous Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin).
In 2014 Professor Kontorovich got Gratitutde from Head of the Russian Imperial House, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna “For exemplary service to the Fatherland and for the benefit of the Russian State”.
In 2015 he worked as the Chairman of the Jury of All-Russian choral festival organized by the All-Russian Choral Society.
Lev Kontorovich also was appointed the Principal Chorus Master of Consolidated choir celebrating the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture in Red Square (in 2014) and a concert dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Russian Army Theatre (May 9, 2015).
On March 21, 2015 Grand Choir led by Lev Kontorovich performed Sergei Rachmaninov`s “Vespers” in the Moscow Church “Holy God Mother Icon Joy of All Mourners” in frames of Orthodox service. This performance was dedicated to 100th anniversary of composing and first performance of Rachmaninov`s masterpiece.
Since 2015 Lev Kontorovich is the Chairman of the Jury of the All-Russian Music Competition in the specialty “Choral Conducting”.
He regularly leads master classes: in the cities of Russia (Astrakhan, Belgorod, Perm, Volgograd and others); in Bulgaria, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica.
The Grand choir often include to their concerts Lev Kontorovich`s original transcriptions of works of world classics for mixed chorus a capella.
Lev Kontorovich worked with such distinguished conductors as Mstislav Rostropovich, Evgeny Svetlanov, Helmut Rilling, Alberto Zedda, Vladimir Fedossev, Seiji Ozawa, Kent Nagano, Vladimir Jurowsky, Mikhail Pletnev, Vladimir Spivakov and many others.
Famous singers such as Ivan Kozlovsky, Nicolai Gedda, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Roberto Alagna, Demis Roussos, Vasily Ladyuk, Lyubov Kazarnovskaya, Vladimir Matorin, Vladislav Piavko performed their concerts accompanied by a choir led by Lev Kontorovich.
Masters of Choral Singing
The company was conceived and founded in 1928 by its first music director – an outstanding master of choral art Alexander Sveshnikov. For many years the Grand Choir kept its popularity among the Central television and radio station companies of the Soviet Union. In different periods the choir was directed by Nikolai Golovanov. From 1952 to 1983, the choir was conducted by the People’s Artist of the USSR Professor Klavdy Ptitsa and was taken over by professor Lyudmila Yermakova, also the People’s Artist of the USSR, in 1983–2008. Under their leadership the choir gained the reputation of the nation’s most eminent company. For the last 80 years the choir has performed over 5000 music pieces – operas, oratories, cantatas by Russian and international composers, a capella music, folk songs and sacred music. Many of them were recorded for the radio to contribute to the treasury of Russian sound recording and get international acclaim (Grand Prix of a records contest in Paris and the Gold medal in Valencia, Spain). The choral compositions by numerous Russian authors, such as Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Shchedrin, Khachaturian, Taktakishvili, Agafonnikov and Kikta, were originally interpreted by the choir.
Such prominent musicians as Irina Arkhipova, Alexander Gauk, Nikolai Gedda, Svyatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Evgeny Svetlanov, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Ennio Morricone, Evgeny Nesterenko, Elena Obraztsova, Mikhail Pletnev, Vladimir Fedoseev, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Zurab Sotkilava, Dmitry Kitaenko, Theodor Curentzis and many others have worked with the Grand Choir in various times of its life.
Since 1996, the choir has been part of the Russian State TV and Radio Music Centre.
In 2005, professor Lev Kontorovich, an Honoured Artist of Russia, who was trained in conducting by K. Ptitsa and L. Yermakova at Moscow Conservatory in the 1960s, was invited to the Grand Choir (which was renamed “Masters of Choral Singing”) to take the position of the choirmaster as a person embracing the legacy of his reputable predecessors.
Lev Kontorovich and the recast Grand Choir consistently adhere to the traditions introduced by their precursors in the previous three quarters of the century. The name of the company presupposes professionalism, exquisite performance, exceptional efficiency and versatile skills of the choir’s members, as each of them is able to perform both as a choir participant and as a soloist.
“Masters of Choral Singing” has their debut in November 2005 when they sang Verdi’s Requiem. In the years to follow the band made its programs including works by Charpentier, Mozart, Russian religious music, participated in the performance of Mozart’s Requiem in Moscow and Kazan (at the composer’s 250th anniversary), Shostakovich’s cantata Anti-Formalist Rayok, for the composer’s 100th anniversary), in the world premiere of the stage version of Prokofiev’s oratorio Ivan the Terrible at the XII International Choral and Bell-Ringer Festival in Yaroslavl. The choir also gave a performance of Shchedrin’s The Sealed Angel liturgy at a festival devoted to the composer’s 75th birthday.
At the moment the musical team has a diversity of choral, symphonic, opera, cantata and oratorio masterpieces in its repertoire: Mass in B minor and Johannes Passions by J. S. Bach, Handel’s Messiah, masses and Requiem by Mozart, Beethoven’s 9th symphony finale, Fauré’s Requiem, Paradise and the Peri of Schumann, Carmina Burana and Catulli Carmina by Orff, St. John of Damascus by Taneev, All-Night Vigil, Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and Spring Cantata by Rakhmaninoff, Skryabin’s Prometheus, Alexander Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible by Prokofiev, Songs of Kursk, Pushkin’s Garland and Spring cantata by Sviridov; religious music works by Arkhangelsky, Bortnyansky, Kastalsky, Tchaikovsky, Tchesnokov, choral scenes and episodes from the operas by Verdi, Glinka, Musorgsky, Rakhmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and other composers.
The choir does contemporary music as well making appearances in varios festivals (Spring in Russia, Territoriya (the Terrirory) etc.). “Autumn International choral festival named after Professor Boris Tevlin” (2012–2014), “To the 80th anniversary of Rodion Shchedrin” (2012), “Dedicated to a Victory Day” (2013); “Conducted by Vladimir Jurowski and stories” (2014–2015). Grand Choir is a permanent member of the Moscow Christmas Festival of Sacred Music (Artistic directors Vladimir Spivakov and Metropolitan Hilarion) and the Moscow Easter Festival by Valery Gergiev.
The company performed twice (in 2005 and 2008) at the concerts given in Moscow by a celebrated Italian composer and conductor Ennio Morricone.
In 2008 and 2012 the Grand Choir participated in the inauguration of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, and in 2014 –in a gala concert of the Summit of Heads of Caspian States (Astrakhan).
One can hear the choir sing in the best concert halls of Moscow and other Russian cities. The musicians were favorably accepted abroad (Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Republic of Korea, Japan etc.). In September 2008, the band carried out the choir part in the concert version of Bellini’s The Capuleti and the Montecchi at Tchaikovsky Concert Hall providing, as it was noted by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, an appropriate background for the all star cast of soloists. In 2009–2010 season, the choir gave concerts at Alte Oper (Frankfurt), Carl Orff-Hall (Munich Philharmonic), Arena Riga (featuring Dmitry Hvorostovsky), Barvikha Luxury Village at the Easter Festival of Valery Gergiev, concert halls of the Moscow Conservatory and he Moscow International Performing Arts Center, Tchaikovsky concert hall etc. In December 2009, the company toured together with Dmitry Hvorostovsky throughout the cities of Ural and Siberia.
Grand Choir is taking part in Radio Orpheus creative project “Reviving the Heritage of Russian Composers” performing the world premieres and rare works of Anton Arensky, Nikolai Golovanov, Alexander Mossolov, Leonid Polovinkin.
