Efrem Podgayts (Composer)
Composer Efrem Podgaits has composed more than 200 works in different genres (12 operas, 3 musicals, a ballet, and a number of pieces for symphony and chamber orchestra, choir and solo singers as well as music for cinema and theatre). His compositions are widely performed and have been recorded in Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Hungary, Japan, Switzerland, Croatia and USA. He places equal importance on his music for children and is considered to be one of the most versatile and outstanding contemporary Russian composers. In 2002 the Russian monthly Musical Review named him Composer of the Year. His music has been performed by world renowned artists including Mstislav Rostropovich, Yuri Bashmet, Lubov Kazarnovskaya, Friedrich Lips, Alexsnder Gindin, Roman Kofman, Valery Polyansky, Vassily Sinaisky, Vladimir Ponkin, Saulus Sondetskis, and many others. He has had a continuing involvement with the Moscow-based Vesna Children’s Choir, directed by Alexander Ponomarev, and their wonderful performances of his work have brought Podgaits well-deservedrecognition both in Russia and abroad. Efrem Podgaits ia a professor at the Ippolitov-Ivanov Moscow State Musical College, where he chairs the Department of Composition. In 2008 Efrem Podgaits won the Bolshoi Theatre / Russian Theatre Union Competition for the best children’s opera or ballet; his winning composition, the ballet Moidodyr will be staged by the Bolshoi Theatre.
Key world premieres:
2011 — «Angel and psychotherapist» chamber opera 2011 — «Cras ignotum» for violin, chamber orchestra, piano and percussions 2011 — «The last musician» children's opera 2011 — Lacrimosa for chamber orchestra 2010 — «Solntsevorot» («Solstice») cantata for mixt choir and instrumental ensemble 2009 — «Kol nidre» for cello and chamber orchestra 2009 — Concerto for marimba and chamber orchestra 2009 — «Post festum» concerto for cello and orchestra 2009 — Concerto for viola and orchestra 2009 — «King David’s psalms» concerto for children choir and chamber orchestra 2009 — «Alliluia» for mixt choir and chamber orchestra 2009 — Opera «The Prince and the Pauper», staged in Moscow 2009 — Opera «Dwarf Long Nose», staged in Krasnodar 2008 — «Viva voce» — Concerto #2 for bayan and chamber orchestra 2008 — «Whims» Concerto-suite for balalayka and Russian folk orchestra 2008 — «The Prayer» for cello and children choir (in memoriam Mstislav Rostropovich) 2007 — Concerto #3 for piano and orchestra 2007 — Opera «Lord of the flies» (after W. Golding) staged in Moscow 2007 — Opera «The Prince and the Pauper», staged in St. Petersburg 2006 — «Ring» for violin and strings (fantasy on jewish theme) 2005 — Concerto for saxophone and orchestra 2005 — Symphony #2 (dedicated to M. Rostropovich) London, LSO, M. Rostropovich) 2004 — Concerto for balalaika and folk orchestra 2003 — «EX ANIMO» for bayan and string quartette 2003 — «POST FESTUM» for cellos orchestra, written under the request of M. Rostropovich (International festival, France) 2003 — «Strange dances» for bassoon and four hands piano 2002 — «New York mass» for mixt choir, organ and strings 2002 — «Lips-concerto» for bayan and orchestra 2002 — Concerto for guitar and chamber orchestra 2001 — Concerto for mandolina and chamber orchestra 2000 — «Formuls» — concerto for symphonic orchestra 1999 — «Post aere nostra» for string quartet 1998 — «Trip to the Orchestraland» fairy-tale for symphonic orchestra and reader 1997 — «Missa veris» for children‘s choir and organ (CD,«Opus 111», Paris, France) 1997 — «Sarafan for Michel» for clarinet and chamber orchestra 1997 — «Thumbolina», staged in Moscow, won the «grand-prix» in 2001 as the best children‘s performance 1996 — «Bakhchief-concerto» for 4 hands piano and chamber orchestra 1995 — «King David‘s psalms» concerto for mixt choir 1994 — «Concordanza» — Concerto #2 for violin and orchestra 1993 — Opera «Alice through the Looking-glass», staged in St. Petersburg 1992 — «Lambada-Concerto» for oboe and chamber orchestra 1991 — Triple concerto for violin, cello, piano and orchestra 1987 — «Concerto brevis» for percussion and chamber ensemble 1986 — Double concerto for two violins and chamber orchestra 1985 — Symphony #3«It will be the gentle rain» for soprano, organ, strings and percussions (Kiev, dedicated to R. Kofman) 1984 — Concerto #1 for violin and orchestra 1983 — Concerto for harpsichord and chamber orchestra 1981 — «How to draw a bird» cantata for soprano, children‘s choir and orchestra (J. Prevert) 1979 — Partita for violin, cello and harpsichord
Member of the Russian Union of Composers, member of the Boad of the Moscow Union of Composers, was awarded the title of Merited Propagator of the Arts of Russia.
The Russian monthly «The Musical Review» named E. Podgaits «Composer of the Year 2002»
Efrem Podgaits official website www.podgaits.info/index_.html
|