The I International Mariinsky Far East Festival, which will take place in Vladivostok from July 30 to August 10, 2016, will feature leaders of the next generation of classical mucic: laureats of the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition. These performers will include violinsts Clara-Jumi Kang (August 1) and Yu-Chien Tseng (August 3), cellist Seungmin Kang (August 4), and also vocalists Yulia Matochkina (July 30, August 7 and 9), and the grand-prix winner of the competition, Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar (August 9).
The first to appear before the Vladivostok public will be Clara-Jumi Kang, a German violinist with Korean roots who became an international sensation over the course of the competition. People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Spivakov characterized her in the following way: “Clara has a mystical sort of talent, something that makes her different from others. Her playing is unique because of its amazing poetry and shocking fervour.” Clara captivated audiences with the stunning ease with which she played even the most difficult passages, her ability to be one with the orchestra, and her tendency to flash endearing smiles in thanks to those playing with her. She currently plays on Antonio Stradivarius “ex-Strauss” 1708 violin, on generous loan from the Samsung Cultural Foundation Korea. Clara will be performing in Vladivostok on August 1, at the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre with the conductor Pavel Smelkov and the combined orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre and the Primorsky Stage. She will be performing Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2, which was written by the composer during his travels and became the ultimate reflection of his nomadic period of life.
Yu-Chien Tseng, winner of the highest prize in the violin category at the VX International Tchaikovsky Competition (the silver medal, since gold was not awarded), will make his debut in Vladivostok with a solo recital. Tseng amazed both the public and the jury during the competition not only with his technique, but also with his distinctive style of playing, a style which launched him into the ranks of the great masters. His manner is both graceful and aristocratic, full of introspective charm and layers of meaning. Every piece he performed demonstrated forethought and deeply connected from beginning to end, and these distinctive features of his performance style are what continue to attract attention from a varied public. The programme of this young violinist shows off all of his multivalent talents: compositions of Tartini and Wieniawski display his virtuosity, while dramatic compositions of Bach and Brahms demonstrate his maturity. On June 17, Yu-Chien Tseng performed this same programme at the Stars of the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg, and every single ticket in the 1100 hall was sold. Tseng plays the Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu 1732 Ex “Castelbarco-Tarisio,” on loan from the Chi-Mei Culture Foundation, Taiwan.
Another favorite of the competition, bronze medal pianist Sergei Redkin, will appear on stage with both Clara-Jumi Kang and Yu-Chien Tseng. Redkin tours actively in Russia and internationally, having recently performed in Moscow and in St. Petersburg, as well as in halls across Germany, France, Switzerland, Poland, Finland, Mexico, and Sweden. In 2008 Sergei Redkin was a prize-winner at the III Moscow Genrikh Neigauz Young Pianists’ Festival, while in 2010 he won 3rd prize at the VIII International Paderewski Young Pianists’ Competition in Poland. In 2012 Redkin won 1st prize at the III International Maj Lind Piano Competition in Helsinki, and in 2013 he took 1st prize at the VI International Prokofiev Piano Competition.
On August 4, another laureate of the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition, Korean cellist Seungmin Kang, will perform with the Orchestra of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre under the direction of conductor Pavel Smelkov at the Primorsky Regional Philharmonic Hall. Her playing style exemplifies romantic expression which manifests itself in her virtuosity and intellect. These unusual characteristics were developed in Kang under the guidance of her teacher, one of the great cello masters of our time, David Geringas. Like her teacher, Seungmin is a universal artist, performing equally masterfully in recitals, concerts, and chamber music, and is recognized as a star in her home country. In Vladivostok, she will perform Haydn's second cello concerto, a piece which won her great praise from both the jury and the audience in the second round of the Tchaikovsky Competition.
On August 6, the gold medal pianist of the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition, Dmitry Masleev, will take part in a charitable concert with the Mariinsky Stradivarius Ensemble at the Primorsky Regional Philharmonic Hall. Outwardly a shy and timid person, Masleev absolutely opens up the moment he is behind the piano. His musicality, phrasing, unusual richness and velvety sound make him stand out. His artistry and spirit confirmed his worthiness as a performer and brought him great praise from the public. Many of the world' greatest living pianists today, who were on the jury, agreed in calling him, “an absolute genius of a musician.” Guests of the festival will have the rare opportunity to hear Masleev perform in a concert where he will be accompanied by the acclaimed Mariinsky Stradivarius Ensemble. He has already performed with Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra numerous times in Russia and abroad, and his St. Petersburg performances were invariably sold out. Masleev performed at the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre in February of this year, when he opened the Year of Prokofiev in Vladivostok.
The festival is also presenting both gold medal vocalists of the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition: Yulia Matochkina (mezzo-soprano) and Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar (baritone), names already well-known in their home countries and abraod. Yulia Matochkina is one of the brightest rising stars of world opera. Her unbelievable voice, with its lightness in the upper soprano register and its sultry, honey tones in the contralto register has brought her acclaim around the world. Her clear diction, unquestionable dramatic talent, and her stage presence and charisma are qualities which helped lead her to victory during the most recent Tchaikovsky Competition. At the Mariinsky Theatre, Matochkina sings a variety of roles across international repertoire: Dalila, Carmen, Didon, Lel, Olga, Polina, and others. In addition, she performs solo concerts at many of the most hallowed halls around the world. Vladivostok audiences will have three chances to hear Yulia Matochkina. First, on July 30, she performs the role of Clara in Prokofiev's opera, Betrothal in a Monastery. Second, on August 7, she performs the role of Polina in Tchaikovsky opera, The Queen of Spades. Finally, on August 9 in the Chamber Hall of the Primorsky Mariinsky, she will take part in a concert entitled “Young Stars of World Opera,” which also features Korean soprano Sunhae Im and Mongolian baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar.
Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar won not only the first prize and gold medal winner in the male vocal category, but also the Grand Prix winner out of all categories in the entire competition. In addition to his unsurpassably rich natural voice, with which he performs lyric roles like Prince Yeletsky as well as dramatic roles like Count di Luna and Baron Scarpia, he also enthrals audiences with his joy of life and his effervescent energy. He is already in his second year as a soloist at the Buryatian State Theatre of Opera and Ballet, and performs at the Mariinsky Theatre as a guest soloist, and also with Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra at various renowned halls internationally.
