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{{Short description|Russian musician}}
'''Igor Lazko''' ({{lang-ru|''Игорь Лазько''}}, {{IPA-ru|ˈiɡər ˈlasʲkə}}), (b. [[St Petersburg]], 1949), is a Russian classical [[pianist]] who has made a distinguished international career as performer, recording artist and teacher of other pianists.
'''Igor Lazko''' ({{langx|ru|Игорь Лазько}}, {{IPA|ru|ˈiɡər ˈlasʲkə}}), (b. [[St Petersburg]], 1949), is a Russian classical [[pianist]] who has made a distinguished international career as performer, recording artist and teacher of other pianists.


== Early career in Russia ==
== Early career in Russia ==
Igor Lazko is descended from a family renowned for its musicians through several generations. When he
Igor Lazko is descended from a family renowned for its musicians through several generations. When he
was six years old he was admitted to the special school for young musicians in the [[St Petersburg Conservatory|Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory]], where his professors were [[Pavel Serebryakov]]<ref>[http://www.conservatoire-russe.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=58 Biography in the Paris Conservatoire-russe website.]</ref> and [[Lekhovitskaya]] {{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}. He was profoundly affected by the example of [[Glenn Gould]]'s playing during his tour in the Soviet Union in 1957, and from this and from Gould's recordings he drew a wealth of inspiration: the pianist describes this in a published article.<ref>Guertain 1988.</ref>
was six years old, he was admitted to the special school for young musicians in the [[St Petersburg Conservatory|Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory]], where his professors were [[Pavel Serebryakov]]<ref>[http://www.conservatoire-russe.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=58 Biography in the Paris Conservatoire-russe website.]</ref> and Sophia Lekhovitskaya.<ref>Concert Programme of Igor Lazko with pianist Jovanka Višekruna Jancović, French Ambassadorial Residence in Serbia, 6 March 2013, [https://rs.ambafrance.org/IMG/pdf/programe_unutra.pdf?2504.JPG Biographical note] (rs.ambafrance pdf download) revised for the performer (in French).</ref> He was profoundly affected by the example of [[Glenn Gould]]'s playing during his tour in the Soviet Union in 1957, and from this and from Gould's recordings he drew a wealth of inspiration: the pianist describes this in a published article.<ref>Guertain 1988.</ref>


At a very young age he displayed exceptional gifts and when only 14 he became the youngest laureate in the history of the [[Johann Sebastian Bach International Music Competition]] at [[Leipzig]], receiving from them the Bronze Medal.<ref>Conservatoire-russe biography (cited above).</ref> Soon afterwards (in 1965) he recorded the Two- and Three-Part [[invention (musical composition)|Inventions]] for the Russian [[Melodiya]] record label,<ref>BWV 772-86, Melodiya 33D 19399/400.</ref> the disc which launched his recording career.
At a very young age, he displayed exceptional gifts and when only 14 he became the youngest laureate in the history of the [[Johann Sebastian Bach International Music Competition]] at [[Leipzig]], receiving from them the bronze medal.<ref>Conservatoire-russe biography (cited above).</ref> Soon afterwards (in 1965), he recorded the Two- and Three-Part [[invention (musical composition)|Inventions]] for the Russian [[Melodiya]] record label,<ref>Two-Part Inventions BWV 772-86 only: Melodiya 33D 19399/400.</ref> the disc which launched his recording career.


His hard work and his exceptional talent opened for him the very finest teaching that Russia had to offer. He perfected himself at the higher Tchaikowsky Conservatory in Moscow in the class of [[Jakov Zak]],<ref>Conservatoire-russe biography (cited above).</ref> successor of the master [[Heinrich Neuhaus]], and took the First Prize in all his paths of study. From 1974 to 1977 he pursued a career as soloist and chamber musician in the Soviet Union, and was soloist with the Leningrad Philharmonic. In the USSR he performed in duo with the cellist Alexey Lazko (appearing before the Leningrad Philharmonic Society in 1965), and in trio with Mirra Lvovna Furer-Lazko.<ref>Sleevenotes to 'Cellist's Golden Repertoire' (see Recording listings).</ref>
His hard work and his exceptional talent opened for him the very finest teaching that Russia had to offer. He perfected himself at the higher Tchaikowsky Conservatory in Moscow in the class of [[Jakov Zak]],<ref>Conservatoire-russe biography (cited above).</ref> successor of the master [[Heinrich Neuhaus]], and took the First Prize in all his paths of study. From 1974 to 1977, he pursued a career as soloist and chamber musician in the Soviet Union, and was soloist with the Leningrad Philharmonic. In the USSR, he performed in duo with the cellist Alexey Lazko (appearing before the Leningrad Philharmonic Society in 1965), and in trio with Mirra Lvovna Furer-Lazko.<ref>Sleevenotes to 'Cellist's Golden Repertoire' (see Recording listings).</ref>


== Belgrade ==
== Belgrade ==
From 1978 to 1992 he was professor at the [[University of Belgrade]]. In this period he recorded the six [[Partitas, BWV 825-830|Partitas]] and the [[Goldberg Variations]] of J.S. Bach, as well as works of [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]] and of other composers.<ref>Conservatoire-russe biography (cited above).</ref> The concert which he dedicated to the memory of the Canadian pianist [[Glenn Gould]] was proclaimed 'the best interpretation of the 1982-1983 season' in Belgrade. Intensively engaged in the musical life of the country, his Belgrade Festival recital of 1987 consisted entirely of Serbian composers,<ref>Recital of 7 October 1987 including works by
From 1978 to 1992, he was professor at the [[University of Belgrade]]. In this period he recorded the six [[Partitas, BWV 825-830|Partitas]] and the [[Goldberg Variations]] of J.S. Bach, as well as works of [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]] and of other composers.<ref>Conservatoire-russe biography (cited above).</ref> The concert which he dedicated to the memory of the Canadian pianist [[Glenn Gould]] was proclaimed 'the best interpretation of the 1982–1983 season' in Belgrade. Intensively engaged in the musical life of the country, his Belgrade Festival recital of 1987 consisted entirely of Serbian composers,<ref>Belgrade Music Festival, Recital of 7 October 1987 including works by
Mirjana Živković, Rajko Maksimović, Berislav Popović, Vlastimir Trajković, Ivan Jevtić and Milorad Kuzmanović, [http://bemus.org/cms/Arhiva/BEOGRADSKE-MUZIAOKE-SVEAOANOSTI-1987.html Beograd Bemus archive 1987.]</ref> while his 1989 recital was a Russian programme of [[Moussorgsky]], [[Tchaikowsky]] ('The Seasons' op. 37, which he also recorded in Belgrade) and [[Rachmaninoff]].<ref>Recital 16 October 1989, [http://www.bemus.org/arhiva/arhiva/21bemus89.php Beograd Bemus archive 1989.]</ref> His 1987 recital with violinist Črtomir Sišković also combined Bach, Mozart and Tchaikowsky.<ref>[http://www.skc.org.rs/images/stories/pdf/novi_talas/FESTIVALI-I-VELIKE-MANIFESTACIJE-U-VREME-NOVOG-TALASA-1977-1989-HRONOGRAFIJA.pdf Timeline: major Serbian events in the period 1977-1989.]</ref> After winning the 1981 Contemporary Music Congress at [[Saint-Germain-en-Laye]], his career also began to develop further in France. In 1985 at the 'Music Like Bach' Festival of [[Nanterre]], he performed practically the complete klavier works of J.S. Bach.<ref>Conservatoire-russe biography (cited above).</ref>
Mirjana Živković, Rajko Maksimović, Berislav Popović, Vlastimir Trajković, Ivan Jevtić and Milorad Kuzmanović, [http://www.bemus.rs/en/archives.html Beograd Bemus archive 1987.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915001401/http://www.bemus.rs/en/archives.html |date=2014-09-15 }} (listing download)</ref> while his 1989 recital was a Russian programme of [[Moussorgsky]], [[Tchaikowsky]] ('The Seasons' op. 37, which he also recorded in Belgrade) and [[Rachmaninoff]].<ref>Belgrade Music Festival, Recital 16 October 1989, [http://www.bemus.rs/en/archives.html Belgrade BEMUS archive 1989.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915001401/http://www.bemus.rs/en/archives.html |date=2014-09-15 }} (listing download)</ref> His 1987 recital with violinist Črtomir Šišković<ref>for whom see Šiškovič website [http://www.crtomirsiskovic.eu/ENG/biografia.html here]</ref> also combined Bach, Mozart and Tchaikowsky.<ref>[http://www.skc.org.rs/images/stories/pdf/novi_talas/FESTIVALI-I-VELIKE-MANIFESTACIJE-U-VREME-NOVOG-TALASA-1977-1989-HRONOGRAFIJA.pdf Timeline: major Serbian events in the period 1977-1989.]</ref> After winning the 1981 Contemporary Music Congress at [[Saint-Germain-en-Laye]], his career also began to develop further in France. In 1985, at the 'Music Like Bach' Festival of [[Nanterre]], he performed practically the complete klavier works of J.S. Bach.<ref>Conservatoire-russe biography (cited above).</ref>


== Range ==
== Range ==
Igor Lazko has worked with such orchestral directors as [[Yuri Temirkanov]], [[Mariss Jansons]], [[Vladislav Chernushenko]] and [[Valery Gergiev]], with the Philharmonic Orchestras of [[Leningrad Philharmonic|Leningrad]] and [[Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra|Moscow]], the [[National Chamber Orchestra of Canada]],<ref>[http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0002536 The Canadian Encyclopedia: National Chamber Orchestra]</ref> and with many European ensembles. Based in Paris since 1992, he continues to perform and teaches at the [[Schola Cantorum]], at the National School of Music of [[Fresnes, Val-de-Marne|Fresnes]]<ref>i.e., the Ecole Nationale de Musique, or Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental de Val de Bièvre.</ref> and in particular at the [[Russian Conservatory Alexandre Scriabin]]<ref>[http://www.conservatoire-russe.com/en/index.html Russian Conservatory Alexandre Scriabin home webpage].</ref> in Paris.
Igor Lazko has worked with such orchestral directors as [[Yuri Temirkanov]], [[Mariss Jansons]], [[Vladislav Chernushenko]] and [[Valery Gergiev]], with the Philharmonic Orchestras of [[Leningrad Philharmonic|Leningrad]] and [[Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra|Moscow]], the [[National Chamber Orchestra of Canada]],<ref>[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/national-chamber-orchestra-of-canada-emc/ The Canadian Encyclopedia: National Chamber Orchestra]</ref> and with many European ensembles. Based in Paris since 1992, he continues to perform and teaches at the [[Schola Cantorum]], at the National School of Music of [[Fresnes, Val-de-Marne|Fresnes]]<ref>i.e., the Ecole Nationale de Musique, or Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental de Val de Bièvre.</ref> and in particular at the [[Russian Conservatory Alexandre Scriabin]]<ref>[http://www.conservatoire-russe.com/en/index.html Russian Conservatory Alexandre Scriabin home webpage].</ref> in Paris.


He is President Director of the [[Nikolai Grigoryevich Rubinstein|Nikolai Rubinstein]] International Piano Concours (founded 1996)<ref>[http://conservatoire.slave.free.fr/Site/concoursEn.htm 8th International Nikolai Rubinstein Piano Contest, 2006, at the Slavic Academy of Music].</ref> and is the Founder and President of the International Concours of the Conservatoire Russe Alexandre Scriabine (2001), in Paris.<ref>[http://www.conservatoire-russe.com/ru/concours.html The Scriabine Conservatory's Tenth Concours, 22-26 February 2010, Paris, details and results (in French - no translation available).]</ref> He is closely involved with the [[Jūrmala]] ([[Latvia]]) International Academic Music Competition for pianists, which reached its 11th Season in 2010.<ref>See [http://www.music.lv/epta/jurmala2007/jury.htm Biographical notice of Lazko in the 7th International Festival.] See also [http://www.dzk.lv/en/node/5178 11th International Academic Music Competition "Jūrmala 2010", May 16-23, 2010.]</ref>
He is President Director of the [[Nikolai Grigoryevich Rubinstein|Nikolai Rubinstein]] International Piano Concours (founded 1996)<ref>[http://conservatoire.slave.free.fr/Site/concoursEn.htm 8th International Nikolai Rubinstein Piano Contest, 2006, at the Slavic Academy of Music] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120714150517/conservatoire.slave.free.fr/Site/concoursEn.htm |date=2012-07-14 }}.</ref> and is the Founder and President of the International Concours of the Conservatoire Russe Alexandre Scriabine (2001), in Paris.<ref>[http://www.conservatoire-russe.com/ru/concours.html The Scriabine Conservatory's Tenth Concours, 22-26 February 2010, Paris, details and results (in French - no translation available).]</ref> He is also associated with the [[Jūrmala]] ([[Latvia]]) International Academic Music Competition for pianists, which reached its 11th Season in 2010.<ref>See [http://www.music.lv/epta/jurmala2007/jury.htm Biographical notice of Lazko in the 7th International Festival.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717025437/http://www.music.lv/epta/jurmala2007/jury.htm |date=2011-07-17 }}</ref>


⚫
He is pianist of the Trio Mendelssohn,<ref>[http://www.alexandrestajic.net/trio_mendelssohn.html Trio Mendelssohn] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420064320/http://www.alexandrestajic.net/trio_mendelssohn.html |date=2011-04-20 }}: not to be confused with the Mendelssohn Piano Trio of Ya-Ting Chang, Peter Sirotin and Fiona Thompson.</ref> with violinist Alexandre Stajic<ref>Stajic is a pupil of [[Leonid Kogan|Kogan]] and [[David Oistrakh|Oistrakh]], and is Artistic Director of [http://www.alexandrestajic.net/qui.html la Compagnie 'Petit Théâtre et Opéra'].</ref> and 'cellist Dorel Fodoreanu.<ref>Fodoreanu is [http://festivalenescu.ro/en/artist/dorel-fodoreanu/ founder] and cellist of the [[Enesco Quartet]], which had a privileged relationship with [[Sandor Vegh]], [[Norbert Brainin]] and [[Sergiu Celibidache]].</ref>
Igor Lazko has given innumerable tours in France, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, Yugoslavia, Italy, Greece and the United States. Also he gives very numerous demonstrations and Master-classes across the whole of Europe (Italy, Switzerland, Germany, etc.) and in the United States.

⚫
He is pianist of the Trio Mendelssohn,<ref>Not to be confused with the Mendelssohn Piano Trio of Ya-Ting Chang, Peter Sirotin and Fiona Thompson.</ref> with violinist Alexandre Stajic and cellist Dorel Fodoreanu.<ref>[http://www.alexandrestajic.net/trio_mendelssohn.html Trio Mendelssohn.] Stajic is pupil of [[Leonid Kogan|Kogan]] and [[David Oistrakh|Oistrakh]]: Fodoreanu is cellist of the [http://www.quatuorenesco.com/le-quatuor.html?lang=en Enesco Quartet], which had a privileged relationship with [[Sandor Vegh]], [[Norbert Brainin]] and [[Sergiu Celibidache]].</ref>


== Artistry ==
== Artistry ==
Igor Lazko is a pure artist and an authentic pianist. He is also an outstanding chamber-musician. He possesses to the very highest degree that art of 'speaking' through the piano which is the mark of the greatest interpreters. He has the resources of an infallible technique (perhaps owing to his regular practice of the work of J.S. Bach). The refined lyricism of his playing and his symphonic projection of sound, allied to the spiritual power of his discourse give a great authenticity to his interpretations, 'a feast of sound of a very great beauty: with him the music becomes again what it was at its origin, limpid, simple and pure.' (A.M.M.).<ref>Translated from French Wikipedia.</ref>
Igor Lazko is a pure artist and an authentic pianist. He is also an outstanding chamber-musician. He possesses to the very highest degree that art of 'speaking' through the piano which is the mark of the greatest interpreters. He has the resources of an infallible technique (perhaps owing to his regular practice of the work of J.S. Bach). The refined lyricism of his playing and his symphonic projection of sound, allied to the spiritual power of his discourse give a great authenticity to his interpretations, 'a feast of sound of a very great beauty: with him the music becomes again what it was at its origin, limpid, simple and pure.' (A.M.M.).


== Recordings mentioned ==
== Recordings mentioned ==
*Two- and Three-Part Inventions (J S Bach). (''Melodiya'' 10" 33D 19399/400)
*Two- and Three-Part Inventions (J S Bach). (''Melodiya'' 10" 33D 19399/400)
*Concerto for piano and orchestra in F minor (J S Bach) with Leningrad Chamber Orchestra conducted by Yuri Temirkanov (1968).<ref>Петербгская Студия Грамзаписи: PRS Recordings, see their [http://www.prs-records.com/catalog_rus.htm#070 catalogue site in Russian]</ref>
*Concerto for piano and orchestra in F minor (J S Bach) with Leningrad Chamber Orchestra conducted by Yuri Temirkanov (1968).<ref>Петербгская Студия Грамзаписи: PRS Recordings, see their [http://www.prs-records.com/catalog_rus.htm#070 catalogue site in Russian] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821204314/http://www.prs-records.com/catalog_rus.htm#070 |date=2021-08-21 }}</ref>
*w. Alexey Lazko (cello): Works for piano and cello by Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, Brahms, Rachmananinoff, etc. 'Cellist's Golden Repertoire (2 CDs, published 2009). Kompozitor SPb CD 75.<ref>[http://www.ruslania.com/language-1/entity-7/context-321/details-225728.html See Ruslania site for listing]</ref>
*w. Alexey Lazko (cello): Works for piano and cello by Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, Brahms, Rachmananinoff, etc. 'Cellist's Golden Repertoire (2 CDs, published 2009). Kompozitor SPb CD 75.<ref>[http://www.ruslania.com/language-1/entity-7/context-321/details-225728.html See Ruslania site for listing]</ref>
*Goldberg Variations, Bach (Belgrade): PGP - ''Produkcija Gramofonskih Ploċa Radio-Televisije Beograd'', SOKOJ RTB 2330172 (Sleevenotes April 1985, Issued 1987).
*Goldberg Variations, Bach (Belgrade): PGP - ''Produkcija Gramofonskih Ploċa Radio-Televisije Beograd'', SOKOJ RTB 2330172 (Sleevenotes April 1985, Issued 1987).
*Partitas, Bach (Belgrade): PGP RTB 3130096 (Issued 17 January 1985<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Igor-Lasko--J-S-Bach-J-S-Bach-Partiten-BWV-825-830/release/933973 details on Discogs site]</ref>)
*Partitas, Bach (Belgrade): PGP RTB 3130096 (Issued 17 January 1985<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Igor-Lasko--J-S-Bach-J-S-Bach-Partiten-BWV-825-830/release/933973 details on Discogs site]</ref>)
*The Seasons (Tchaikowsky), op 37a. PGP RTB 2130513.
*The Seasons (Tchaikowsky), op 37a. PGP RTB 2130513.
*w. Crtomir Siskovic (violin): Sonata in G minor 'Didone abbandonata' ([[Tartini]]); Suite no 1 ([[Svara Danilo]]); Sonatina in G minor ([[Antonín Dvořák]]). PGP RTB 230049; Jugoton LSY-66243.
*w. Črtomir Šiškovič (violin): Sonata in G minor 'Didone abbandonata' ([[Tartini]]) op. 1 no. 10; Suite no 1 ([[Švara Danilo]]); Sonatina in G major op. 100 ([[Antonín Dvořák]]). PGP RTB 230049; Jugoton LSY-66243.<ref>See [http://www.crtomirsiskovic.eu/img/discografia/vinile.jpg here] for listings.</ref>
*w. [[Alexandre Brussilovsky]] (violin): [[Violin Sonata (Franck)|Sonata for violin and piano in A major]] ([[César Franck]]); Sonata for violin and piano in E flat major ([[Richard Strauss]]). ''Suoni e colori'', ORCD 6712 (August 2000).
*w. [[Alexandre Brussilovsky]] (violin): [[Violin Sonata (Franck)|Sonata for violin and piano in A major]] ([[César Franck]]); Sonata for violin and piano in E flat major ([[Richard Strauss]]). ''Suoni e colori'', ORCD 6712 (August 2000).
*w. A Brussilovsky (violin), Nathanaelle Marie, works by [[Khandoshkin]], [[Afanassiev]], [[César Cui|Cui]], [[Mily Balakirev|Balakirev]], [[Mussorgsky]], [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]], [[Taneyev]]{{dn|date=February 2013}}, [[Arensky]], [[Rachmaninoff]], [[Efrem Zimbalist]]. ''Suoni e colori'', 53005.
*w. A Brussilovsky (violin), Nathanaelle Marie, works by [[Khandoshkin]], [[Afanassiev]], [[César Cui|Cui]], [[Mily Balakirev|Balakirev]], [[Mussorgsky]], [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]], [[Sergei Taneyev|Taneyev]], [[Arensky]], [[Rachmaninoff]], [[Efrem Zimbalist]]. ''Suoni e colori'', 53005.
*w. A Brussilovsky (violin), Amaury Wallez (bassoon), Michel Lethiec (clar.), [[Mikhail Glinka|Glinka]]: Trio Pathetique in D min. ''Suoni e colori'' 53004.
*w. A Brussilovsky (violin), Amaury Wallez (bassoon), Michel Lethiec (clar.), [[Mikhail Glinka|Glinka]]: Trio Pathetique in D min. ''Suoni e colori'' 53004.


== Sources and references==
== Sources and references==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
* Ghyslaine Guertin (Ed), ''Glenn Gould, Pluriel: Texts collected and presented by G. Guertin'' (at Conferences at Universities of Quebec and Montreal, 13–15 October 1987), including an article by Igor Lazko on Gould's 1957 Soviet tour. (Louise Courteau: Verdun, Quebec, 1988). ISBN 2-89239-063-X
* Ghyslaine Guertin (Ed), ''Glenn Gould, Pluriel: Texts collected and presented by G. Guertin'' (at Conferences at Universities of Quebec and Montreal, 13–15 October 1987), including an article by Igor Lazko on Gould's 1957 Soviet tour. (Louise Courteau: Verdun, Quebec, 1988). {{ISBN|2-89239-063-X}}
*[http://www.foresthill-sf.com/musicaldays-2007/FHMD-igor.html 2007 Forest Hill Musical Days programme note biography of Lazko]
*[http://www.foresthill-sf.com/musicaldays-2007/FHMD-igor.html 2007 Forest Hill Musical Days programme note biography of Lazko]


{{Authority control|VIAF=10180301}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Lazko, Igor
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Russian musician
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1949
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lazko, Igor}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lazko, Igor}}
[[Category:Schola Cantorum de Paris faculty]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the Schola Cantorum de Paris]]
[[Category:University of Belgrade faculty]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Belgrade]]
[[Category:Russian classical pianists]]
[[Category:Russian male classical pianists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:21st-century Russian classical pianists]]
[[Category:21st-century Russian male musicians]]

Latest revision as of 19:24, 10 November 2024

Igor Lazko (Russian: Игорь Лазько, Russian pronunciation: [ˈiɡər ˈlasʲkə]), (b. St Petersburg, 1949), is a Russian classical pianist who has made a distinguished international career as performer, recording artist and teacher of other pianists.

Early career in Russia

[edit]

Igor Lazko is descended from a family renowned for its musicians through several generations. When he was six years old, he was admitted to the special school for young musicians in the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory, where his professors were Pavel Serebryakov[1] and Sophia Lekhovitskaya.[2] He was profoundly affected by the example of Glenn Gould's playing during his tour in the Soviet Union in 1957, and from this and from Gould's recordings he drew a wealth of inspiration: the pianist describes this in a published article.[3]

At a very young age, he displayed exceptional gifts and when only 14 he became the youngest laureate in the history of the Johann Sebastian Bach International Music Competition at Leipzig, receiving from them the bronze medal.[4] Soon afterwards (in 1965), he recorded the Two- and Three-Part Inventions for the Russian Melodiya record label,[5] the disc which launched his recording career.

His hard work and his exceptional talent opened for him the very finest teaching that Russia had to offer. He perfected himself at the higher Tchaikowsky Conservatory in Moscow in the class of Jakov Zak,[6] successor of the master Heinrich Neuhaus, and took the First Prize in all his paths of study. From 1974 to 1977, he pursued a career as soloist and chamber musician in the Soviet Union, and was soloist with the Leningrad Philharmonic. In the USSR, he performed in duo with the cellist Alexey Lazko (appearing before the Leningrad Philharmonic Society in 1965), and in trio with Mirra Lvovna Furer-Lazko.[7]

Belgrade

[edit]

From 1978 to 1992, he was professor at the University of Belgrade. In this period he recorded the six Partitas and the Goldberg Variations of J.S. Bach, as well as works of Tchaikovsky and of other composers.[8] The concert which he dedicated to the memory of the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould was proclaimed 'the best interpretation of the 1982–1983 season' in Belgrade. Intensively engaged in the musical life of the country, his Belgrade Festival recital of 1987 consisted entirely of Serbian composers,[9] while his 1989 recital was a Russian programme of Moussorgsky, Tchaikowsky ('The Seasons' op. 37, which he also recorded in Belgrade) and Rachmaninoff.[10] His 1987 recital with violinist Črtomir Šišković[11] also combined Bach, Mozart and Tchaikowsky.[12] After winning the 1981 Contemporary Music Congress at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, his career also began to develop further in France. In 1985, at the 'Music Like Bach' Festival of Nanterre, he performed practically the complete klavier works of J.S. Bach.[13]

Range

[edit]

Igor Lazko has worked with such orchestral directors as Yuri Temirkanov, Mariss Jansons, Vladislav Chernushenko and Valery Gergiev, with the Philharmonic Orchestras of Leningrad and Moscow, the National Chamber Orchestra of Canada,[14] and with many European ensembles. Based in Paris since 1992, he continues to perform and teaches at the Schola Cantorum, at the National School of Music of Fresnes[15] and in particular at the Russian Conservatory Alexandre Scriabin[16] in Paris.

He is President Director of the Nikolai Rubinstein International Piano Concours (founded 1996)[17] and is the Founder and President of the International Concours of the Conservatoire Russe Alexandre Scriabine (2001), in Paris.[18] He is also associated with the Jūrmala (Latvia) International Academic Music Competition for pianists, which reached its 11th Season in 2010.[19]

He is pianist of the Trio Mendelssohn,[20] with violinist Alexandre Stajic[21] and 'cellist Dorel Fodoreanu.[22]

Artistry

[edit]

Igor Lazko is a pure artist and an authentic pianist. He is also an outstanding chamber-musician. He possesses to the very highest degree that art of 'speaking' through the piano which is the mark of the greatest interpreters. He has the resources of an infallible technique (perhaps owing to his regular practice of the work of J.S. Bach). The refined lyricism of his playing and his symphonic projection of sound, allied to the spiritual power of his discourse give a great authenticity to his interpretations, 'a feast of sound of a very great beauty: with him the music becomes again what it was at its origin, limpid, simple and pure.' (A.M.M.).

Recordings mentioned

[edit]
  • Two- and Three-Part Inventions (J S Bach). (Melodiya 10" 33D 19399/400)
  • Concerto for piano and orchestra in F minor (J S Bach) with Leningrad Chamber Orchestra conducted by Yuri Temirkanov (1968).[23]
  • w. Alexey Lazko (cello): Works for piano and cello by Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, Brahms, Rachmananinoff, etc. 'Cellist's Golden Repertoire (2 CDs, published 2009). Kompozitor SPb CD 75.[24]
  • Goldberg Variations, Bach (Belgrade): PGP - Produkcija Gramofonskih Ploċa Radio-Televisije Beograd, SOKOJ RTB 2330172 (Sleevenotes April 1985, Issued 1987).
  • Partitas, Bach (Belgrade): PGP RTB 3130096 (Issued 17 January 1985[25])
  • The Seasons (Tchaikowsky), op 37a. PGP RTB 2130513.
  • w. Črtomir Šiškovič (violin): Sonata in G minor 'Didone abbandonata' (Tartini) op. 1 no. 10; Suite no 1 (Švara Danilo); Sonatina in G major op. 100 (Antonín Dvořák). PGP RTB 230049; Jugoton LSY-66243.[26]
  • w. Alexandre Brussilovsky (violin): Sonata for violin and piano in A major (César Franck); Sonata for violin and piano in E flat major (Richard Strauss). Suoni e colori, ORCD 6712 (August 2000).
  • w. A Brussilovsky (violin), Nathanaelle Marie, works by Khandoshkin, Afanassiev, Cui, Balakirev, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Taneyev, Arensky, Rachmaninoff, Efrem Zimbalist. Suoni e colori, 53005.
  • w. A Brussilovsky (violin), Amaury Wallez (bassoon), Michel Lethiec (clar.), Glinka: Trio Pathetique in D min. Suoni e colori 53004.

Sources and references

[edit]
  1. ^ Biography in the Paris Conservatoire-russe website.
  2. ^ Concert Programme of Igor Lazko with pianist Jovanka Višekruna Jancović, French Ambassadorial Residence in Serbia, 6 March 2013, Biographical note (rs.ambafrance pdf download) revised for the performer (in French).
  3. ^ Guertain 1988.
  4. ^ Conservatoire-russe biography (cited above).
  5. ^ Two-Part Inventions BWV 772-86 only: Melodiya 33D 19399/400.
  6. ^ Conservatoire-russe biography (cited above).
  7. ^ Sleevenotes to 'Cellist's Golden Repertoire' (see Recording listings).
  8. ^ Conservatoire-russe biography (cited above).
  9. ^ Belgrade Music Festival, Recital of 7 October 1987 including works by Mirjana Živković, Rajko Maksimović, Berislav Popović, Vlastimir Trajković, Ivan Jevtić and Milorad Kuzmanović, Beograd Bemus archive 1987. Archived 2014-09-15 at the Wayback Machine (listing download)
  10. ^ Belgrade Music Festival, Recital 16 October 1989, Belgrade BEMUS archive 1989. Archived 2014-09-15 at the Wayback Machine (listing download)
  11. ^ for whom see Šiškovič website here
  12. ^ Timeline: major Serbian events in the period 1977-1989.
  13. ^ Conservatoire-russe biography (cited above).
  14. ^ The Canadian Encyclopedia: National Chamber Orchestra
  15. ^ i.e., the Ecole Nationale de Musique, or Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental de Val de Bièvre.
  16. ^ Russian Conservatory Alexandre Scriabin home webpage.
  17. ^ 8th International Nikolai Rubinstein Piano Contest, 2006, at the Slavic Academy of Music Archived 2012-07-14 at archive.today.
  18. ^ The Scriabine Conservatory's Tenth Concours, 22-26 February 2010, Paris, details and results (in French - no translation available).
  19. ^ See Biographical notice of Lazko in the 7th International Festival. Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Trio Mendelssohn Archived 2011-04-20 at the Wayback Machine: not to be confused with the Mendelssohn Piano Trio of Ya-Ting Chang, Peter Sirotin and Fiona Thompson.
  21. ^ Stajic is a pupil of Kogan and Oistrakh, and is Artistic Director of la Compagnie 'Petit Théâtre et Opéra'.
  22. ^ Fodoreanu is founder and cellist of the Enesco Quartet, which had a privileged relationship with Sandor Vegh, Norbert Brainin and Sergiu Celibidache.
  23. ^ Петербгская Студия Грамзаписи: PRS Recordings, see their catalogue site in Russian Archived 2021-08-21 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ See Ruslania site for listing
  25. ^ details on Discogs site
  26. ^ See here for listings.
  • Ghyslaine Guertin (Ed), Glenn Gould, Pluriel: Texts collected and presented by G. Guertin (at Conferences at Universities of Quebec and Montreal, 13–15 October 1987), including an article by Igor Lazko on Gould's 1957 Soviet tour. (Louise Courteau: Verdun, Quebec, 1988). ISBN 2-89239-063-X
  • 2007 Forest Hill Musical Days programme note biography of Lazko
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