Trumpet voices: organists from unfriendly countries performed in Kaliningrad

Musicians from four continents performed works on Russia's largest organ. The 14th Mikael Tariverdiev International Organist Competition is one of the world's most important events in its niche. Izvestia noted new names of the world classical scene that are worth remembering, and talked with guests from Italy, Germany and Switzerland. For the first time in the history of the competition, an organist from Korea won.

Four continents

Despite the sanctions, the International Organist Competition in the westernmost city of Russia is only growing by countries, and now by continents. Africa has been added this year. Precious Alapakristi from Nigeria was among the participants. The assertive, brave girl was happy to fly first to Moscow for a tour, and then to Kaliningrad. After all, it is here, in the Cathedral on Kanta Island, that the largest organ in Russia is located, with more than 8.5 thousand pipes.

Precious Alapakristi dreamed of playing it, but she didn't have enough skill to get to the finals. Six participants reached it: Irina Kryukova (Russia), Yonggen Yang (Republic of Korea), Sunhyeong Pak (Republic of Korea), Ilaria Centorino (Italy), Polina Panteleeva (Russia), Ivan Tsarev (Russia). The jury was headed by Thomas Kinz, Professor of organ improvisation at the Higher School of Music in Lausanne, titular organist of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice.

— The level of the contestants was extremely high, so it was difficult for us to make a decision, — said the chairman of the jury. — We have set certain criteria: general musicality, technique of performance, mastery of the register, good sound. All the participants were different from each other.

Ilaria Centorrino from Italy told Izvestia that her parents were afraid to let her go to Russia.

"But then they agreed, because I'm an adult and I have the right to make my own decisions," the girl smiles. — The Mikael Tariverdiev Organist Competition is one of the most prestigious in the world, participation in it is very important for my career as a musician, and my parents gave up. We have a simple Sicilian family. The main earner is Dad, he's a fishmonger.

Ilaria became a musician after graduating from the conservatory. He's teaching there now. The jury awarded the girl a special prize. The Italian performed the work of Mikaela Tariverdiyev best of all: in the third round, playing one of the two movements of the symphony "Chernobyl" was a mandatory number in the program of the participants.

The Korean landing

In the 26 years of its existence, the largest organist competition has expanded its horizons to face-to-face selections in Europe and America. But the latter Hamburg (Germany) and New Haven (Connecticut, USA) refused to conduct live auditions for political reasons.

— That's why we selected the participants based on video applications, — Vera Tariverdiyeva, permanent art director of the contest, shared with Izvestia. — But we are proud that this year's selection was held in Seoul, South Korea. Despite all the political realities, the competition lives and develops as an international one, not only in terms of the composition of the jury and participants, but also in terms of the venue. And we selected participants in China for the last competition.

The geography of the contestants is so extensive that the organizers are not yet faced with the need to explore other countries.

Sunhyun Park admitted to Izvestia that he had repeatedly participated in international competitions and did not feel much excitement. He really wanted to perform well in Russia. At the competition, he was focused, concentrated, and demonstrated various instrument techniques.

— This is the second time I have come to this important competition as a member of the jury, the first time was six years ago, and each time it only gets stronger, — said the organ professor at the Conservatory in Cosenza (Italy) Emanuele Cardi. — Organ music is becoming more and more popular among young people.

The number of concerts in Kaliningrad Cathedral confirms his words. Last year, there were more than a thousand events in the organ hall.

"I was pleasantly surprised and delighted with the way I was greeted in Kaliningrad," said Markus Eichenlaub, organist of the largest Romanesque church in the world, the Cathedral in Speyer, and organ professor at the University of Essen. — How hospitable are the people here. I am glad that I met people and had the opportunity to make new friends. Music and the organ bring people together.

And the chairman of the jury, Thomas Kinz, is confident that Tariverdiyev's competition has become a bridge that will connect Russia and Europe again. Christian Bardi, a professor at the Bern University of the Arts, shares the same idea.

—Music is the main factor uniting peoples and cultures nowadays,— Bardi said. — Even the fact that the organ is in the church also helps. In these difficult times, she helps bring people together.

The jury was among the first visitors to evaluate the new building of the Museum of the World Ocean. A huge glass sphere in the form of a globe completed filling its funds at the end of August. One of the grandest halls in the museum is the Heart of the ocean. And it's an organ. Modern, electronic. And five glass tubes filled with water mean five oceans. Jisung Kim, an organ professor at Seoul Theological University, is the first musician to play this unique instrument.