Mikhail Kollontay


Mikhail Georgiyevich Kollontay, Russian composer and pianist. Also known under his mother's name, Ermolaev.
His father, Georgiy Fyodorovich Kollontay, an artist, was sent to the camps in 1938 ; his mother, Ekaterina Ilyinichna Ermolaeva, was a translator.

Biography

In 1971 graduated from the Music College attached to the Moscow Conservatory 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. Between 1979 and 2003 taught at the Moscow Conservatory, and, from 1989 to 1991, at the Gnessin Musical Pedagogical Institute. Beginning in 1991, performed various duties at Moscow churches. Since 2003 professor at Tainan National University of the Arts.
Among Mikhail Kollontay's students are: N. V. Moukhina, M. A. Soboleva, A. V. Sidenko, O. A. Tutova, Lin Yu-Ying, Kao Pei-Hsin, Shen Yu-Lin, Huang Kuan-Che, Chien Jay, Wang Yi-Hsing, and Bang-Shyuan Chen.

Composition

Kollontay's artistic style was formed under the influence of Russian Church music, the tradition of liturgical reading, the culture of early Russian singing and folklore. 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, A. Golyshev, Schostakovich State Quartet, E. Denisova, K. Dillingham, I. Zaydenshnir, F. Cadena, A. Kornienko, Jens E. Christensen, E. Kuschnerova, A. Naumenko, N. Privarskaya, E. Rastvorova, M. Svetlov, E. Serov, B. Tevlin, O. Tutova, V. Fedoseyev, A. Fiseisky, S. Cherepanov, I. Chukovskaya, V. Chpiller, A. Yakovlev, O. Yanovich, and others. Mariinsky Theatre performed The Captain’s Daughter opera by Kollontay in a concert version in 2016 for the first time.

Selected works

On LPs

The repertoire of Mikhail Kollontay includes: “The Well-tempered Clavier” of J.S. Bach ; late sonatas of J. Haydn; sonatas of W.A. Mozart; works of L. van Beethoven ; F. Chopin, F. Liszt ; P.I. Tchaikovsky ; works of M.I. Glinka ; A.S. Dargomyzhsky ; M.A. Balakirev ; M.P. Mussorgsky ; Komitas; Yu.M. Butsko, B.A. Tchaikovsky, A.A. Bouzovkin, V.G. Arzoumanov, V.V. Ryabov.
Performs various solo programmes in Russia and abroad.
Also performed as an accompanist and in ensembles.
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. Initiated the “Heritage” musical meetings 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 station 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.

Articles

Has a number of publications in various Russian musicological journals.

Awards