Cellist Aleksey Zhilin wins double victory at prestigious competition in Austria

PORCHAH-AM-Wörthersee. Ask Zhilin - he knows this. The outstanding success of a Russian musician.

Tchaikovsky considered Brahms (Johannes Brahms) arrogant mediocrity. Berlin critic Louis Elert complained about the lack of energy features in his work. Ferenc Liszt (Liszt Ferencz) and violinist Joseph Joachim (Joseph Joachim) admired his music, and Robert Schumann (Robert Schumann) called Brahms the ideal spokesman for the spirit of the times.

Time eliminates differences, attracts opposite charges. The presence of critics does not reduce the army of fans of the romantic composer. Osip Mandelstam, speaking of the cello, mentioned Brahms, the author of the “German Requiem” (Ein deutsches Requiem), symphonies, concerts and numerous chamber compositions. According to the poet, the cello delays the sound, and her timbre best conveys a feeling of excruciating impatience. “Ask Brahms — he knows that.”

The secrets of the instrument, which is called the voice of the soul, are also known to the participants in the annual International Johannes Brahms Competition in Austrian Portchach. This year it was held for the 25th time, from the 1st to the 9th of September. Musicians from dozens of countries competed in the nominations “chamber music”, “violin”, “piano”, “cello”.

For the first time in the history of the contest, the same participant was the first in several categories - “chamber ensemble” and “cello solo”. The author of the golden double is Petersburger Alexei Zhilin. The victory in the first nomination was helped by his colleague in the duo Duo Maestro - the talented pianist Andrei Baranenko. Local newspapers are full of reports about Grandiosen Russen, the Belgian Le Soir enthusiastically writes about the power and mesmerizing sensuality of the sound of his instrument.

In the baggage of Alexei Zhilin - the victory and the title of laureate of many international competitions. Among them are the prestigious The Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, the Chilean “Dr. Luis Sigall ”, South Korean ISANGYUN Competition. A huge repertoire, a successful touring life, cooperation with Theodor Currentzis, pedagogical activity in the graduate school of the Conservatory of the Northern Capital.

Zhilin - accompanist of the musicAeterna orchestra, soloist of the St. Petersburg House of Music, member of the David Oistrakh quartet. The creation of the quartet is a dream come true of best friends, cellist Alexei Zhilin and violinist Andrei Baranov, winner of the International Violinwettbewerb Henri Marteau Violin Competition, winner of The Queen Elisabeth Competition Grand Prix.

The sources of any success are people who are able to assess the potential at the start, helping to fully reveal their talent. Zhilin was lucky with both the teacher and the educational institution. Alexei is a typical child prodigy whose abilities were obvious to members of his musical family as early as 4 years old. Zhilin is a graduate of the legendary secondary school at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Hundreds of gifted children received a versatile education in these walls. Among them - Yuri Temirkanov, Oleg Karavaychuk, Vladimir Spivakov, Grigory Sokolov. Teacher Zhilin - the head of the St. Petersburg cello school Anatoly Pavlovich Nikitin - Shostakovich called an outstanding soloist, accompanist and brilliant musician.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru