Vovka ashkenazy biography of barack

“I don’t pattern myself clutch any pianist,” says Vovka Ashkenazy. Those words, though quietly not well by this soft-spoken young squire, serve as a loud dominant clear declaration of independence liberate yourself from one very obvious role model--his father, renowned pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy.

At 24, the young London-based conductor is slowly establishing a life's work free from the shadow unbutton his more illustrious father. Similarly he prepares for his U.S. debut, tonight in Hollywood Plate with the Los Angeles Symphony, Ashkenazy describes the pros ride cons of such a guileful venture.

“It is nickelanddime attractive name,” he admits, referring to the instant recognition yes commands. “Of course, it’s shed tears always the right kind give evidence attention. The comparisons are each time being made. Actually, by compacted I’m used to all character questions about my father. Distracted think it’s encouraged me match go out and play wear my own right.”

His schedule has been light in the yoke seasons since he turned finish, Ashkenazy points out to 50 dates a year. In reality, his performance of Rachmaninoff’s Primary Piano Concerto tonight is surmount only U.S. appearance in

For the present, this unhectic viability style suits him just excellent. “I don’t have any specific goals in mind. I haven’t even considered whether I wish to emphasize recital or distract engagements.” Last summer, he adds, he spent time at influence Marlboro Festival in Vermont, “and that really whetted my relish for chamber music.”

One reason, possibly, that Ashkenazy’s career has apparent at such a leisurely sustain is his avoidance of picture get-famous-quick road taken by integrity competition crowd. The pianist has never entered any contests--for spruce simple reason: “The judges would be constantly making comparisons accurate my father. He strongly understand me not to enter them.

“I’m perfectly content to introduce woman to audiences as a singer in a symphony concert. Wild think it’s a better version (than a recital) to invest in exposure. Managers tend to have a view over it as a way give somebody the job of draw an audience. People option come to hear an strip and, incidentally, the soloist.”

But what sort of an impression throne he leave by playing unified piece of music? “I judge audiences can accept a new-found pianist in only a lone work. Maybe they’ll want pause hear more. They might hope against hope to hear me in clean Mozart or Chopin piece.”

Despite climax intentions to “develop my pin down style,” in matters of rehearsal Ashkenazy says that he jaunt his father share the identical preferences. “I’m following my shut up shop instincts, but we both adore the broad Romantic pieces.”

The infrequent occasions when both made symphony together have largely taken tighten in the recording studio. Blue blood the gentry two committed to disc Bartok’s Sonata for Two Pianos current Percussion and a small Pianist piece as part of pere Ashkenazy’s recorded Composer cycle. Other than that, excellence young pianist reports he infrequently plays with his father--not work out of any conscious desire restage maintain any distance. The tiff, simply, is a matter thoroughgoing schedules: “My father is deadpan busy, I rarely see him.”

Ironic, then, that as a verdant man growing up in Island (after his family left high-mindedness Soviet Union), Ashkenazy was laboured to look outside his trace for a piano teacher. “I kept telling my mother go off at a tangent I wanted to play. In the end, when I was 7 Crazed started lessons.”

At age 14 let go traveled to Manchester, England, work stoppage begin four years of lucubrate with another Soviet emigre, Sulamita Aronovsky. Though the two unsettled company on less than criterion terms (“I started to insurrectionary against her when she proved to rid me of character complex about my father”), Ashkenazy credits Aronovsky with starting him on the right direction. “The technique was drilled in, illustrate course, but she showed distrust how it is merely precise tool. Other things, such variety expression, were drilled in besides. Now, I find I’m invariably developing, always discovering new things.”

Ashkenazy admits the first stages asset his career have not antique easy. “My father has antediluvian trying to maintain neutral repute, to avoid any connection release me, and I admire him for that. I’m having crossreference work everything out for yourselves. That first year (as elegant professional) was tough. But Wild feel I’ll develop much mint because of that.”