On September 3, 2021, the Moscow Theater \u201cSchool of Modern Drama\u201d hosted the solemn ceremony of awarding the II International Award \u201cPure Sound\u201d for the best audio recording of works of Russian academic music. Anyone could watch the ceremony and the gala concert: the event was broadcast online on culture.ru<\/b> and on the website of the founder of the award — Russian Musical Union<\/b>.<\/p>\n
The \u201cPure Sound\u201d Award is held every two years: for the first time, the creators of the best releases dedicated to Russian academic music were awarded in 2019. Over 150 applications from Russian and foreign copyright holders were received for the 2020\u20132021 competition. Based on the results of the qualifying stage, 40 releases were selected to the shortlist.<\/p>\n
The winners were determined by the voting of the final stage jury chaired by the composer, People\u2019s Artist of Russia Alexander Tchaikovsky. The jury members — eminent figures of culture and art — chose the 24 best releases, three in each of the eight nominations: Opera, Choral Works, Orchestral Music, Chamber Vocal Music, Chamber Instrumental Ensemble Music, Chamber Instrumental Solo Music, Restoration of Archival Audio Recordings, Mixed Nomination (a collection of audio recordings with various performers).<\/p>\n
The awards ceremony at the School of Modern Drama Theater was opened by Alexander Klevitsky, composer, conductor, Honored Artist of Russia, General Director of the Russian Musical Union, and Maria Soboleva, sound engineer, professor of Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK) and the Moscow Conservatory, Chairman of the Guild of Sound Engineers of Russian Musical Union.<\/p>\n
Alexander Klevitsky notes: \u201cPure Sound is a unique project: it was originally conceived in order to focus on audio recordings of Russian academic music. This is the first such award in our country. Thanks to the project, we are discovering records of the highest quality, on which magnificent works of Russian composers, both classics and our contemporaries, sound. This time the award again confirmed its international status: among the contenders for the award were releases of not only Russian, but also foreign record companies. I am sure that the geography of the competition will expand.\u201d<\/p>\n
To the applause of the audience, awards and cash prizes were given to the creators of the winning releases — sound engineers, producers, heads of music publishing houses, performers, authors of works. The first-degree laureates in each nomination were awarded statuettes of the prize, which were designed and created by the famous sculptor, graphic artist and painter Vasily Selivanov.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was attended by Natalia Ignatenko, Director General of the Elena Obraztsova Foundation, the Charitable Foundation for the Support of Musical Arts; Dmitry Sibirtsev, Director of the Moscow Chamber Choir of Vladimir Minin; Artistic Director of the Children\u2019s Musical Theater of a Young Actor and the Children\u2019s Musical Theater \u201cImpromptu\u201d, Honored Artist of Russia Alexander Fedorov; Erdo Groot, Director of the recording company Polyhymnia International (Netherlands); Doctor of Arts, Professor of the Moscow Conservatory, Editor-in-Chief of the PianoForum magazine, Honored Artist of Russia Vsevolod Zaderatsky, and others.<\/p>\n
Outstanding Russian artists performed at the Award Gala Concert: the OpensoundOrchestra contemporary music orchestra under the direction of Stanislav Malyshev; Chamber Choir of the Moscow Conservatory under the direction of Professor Alexander Solovyov; pianist, Honored Artist of Russia Ekaterina Mechetina; opera singer, Honored Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan Elena Terentyeva, and others. The musicians performed works by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Mikael Tariverdiev, Dmitry Shostakovich, Alexander Borodin and Sergei Rachmaninoff, as well as works by contemporary composers — Alexander Klevitsky, Alexey Aiga, Ayrat Ichmuratov and Nastasya Khrushcheva. Actor, TV presenter Yulian Makarov and pianist Ekaterina Mechetina hosted the concert and the Award Ceremony.<\/p>\n
Erdo Groot, Director of Polyhymnia International record company, said: \u201cIt is a great pleasure to be at this ceremony in person, to stand on stage on this wonderful evening and present the nominees. I would like to express my admiration for the organizers of the event. Having worked in Russia in the field of sound recording, I know that here the quality and performance of the musicians is at the highest level. This year the quality of all sound recordings has improved significantly, I am ready to listen to them again and again\u201d.<\/p>\n
The recipients of the awards also shared their impressions. Thus, the General Director and Artistic Director of the Russian State Music TV and Radio Center Irina Gerasimova, who was awarded the prize for the release in the nomination \u201cOrchestral Music\u201d, noted: \u201cThe sensations are absolutely magical. It is a great joy to receive an award from our colleagues; it is the recognition and the highest appreciation of our work. I am a radio employee, for us recording is the main way to bring all the best to the listener. \u201cPure Sound\u201d is an important award for those behind the scenes, especially for sound engineers. Highly professional sound engineers are in great need. The Award raises the status of this profession and identifies those who know and do their job very well.»<\/p>\n
Laureate release applicants who were unable to attend the ceremony in person sent video messages to the organizers and viewers of the Award. In particular, the conductor of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra Arthur Arnold, who presented the release \u201cMosolov — Symphony No. 5 & Harp Concerto\u201d in the Orchestral Music category, said: \u201cIt is a great honor for me to be among the winners of the \u201cPure Sound\u201d Award. I thank the members of the jury for having noted the important works of Alexander Mosolov. I would like to take a moment to share with you my love for Russian music. This is such an amazing musical tradition and history, and Alexander Mosolov is a part of it. There is still a lot of work ahead for recording. And this is a great journey! Thank you all involved!\u201d<\/p>\n
Greetings were also sent by Christian Hoeppner, General Secretary of the German Musical Council — partner of the Award: \u201cThe German Musical Council congratulates Russian Musical Union and active participants of the \u201cPure Sound\u201d Award with this excellent example of creative work. These days, it is more important than ever to support musicians and popularize their work. Best wishes from Berlin.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to the main awards, special prizes were awarded from the partners of the award — the studio complex CineLab and the German company Neumann.<\/p>\n
Also the project partners were: National Found for Copyright Holders\u2019 Support, Orpheus Radio Station, \u201cNovy Vek\u201d Bank, Yamaha Music Russia, International Musical Council (IMC), European Musical Council (EMC), the \u201cRadio Rossii\u201d (Radio Russia) radio station, Russian Congress of Sound Engineers of Music Programs, the Kultura newspaper, the Kulturomania information portal, the InterMedia news agency, the Musical Life magazine, the Musical Klondike magazine.<\/p>\n
114,000 people watched the online broadcast of the Awards Ceremony and Gala Concert.<\/p>\n
The following audio recordings became laureates of the II International \u201cPure Sound\u201d Award:<\/b><\/p>\n
Nomination: Opera<\/strong><\/p>\n Laureate I Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate II Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate III Degree<\/em><\/strong> Nomination: Choral Works<\/strong><\/p>\n Laureate I Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate II Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate III Degree<\/em><\/strong> Nomination: Orchestral Music<\/strong><\/p>\n Laureate I Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate II Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate III Degree<\/em><\/strong> Nomination: Chamber Vocal Music<\/strong><\/p>\n Laureate I Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate II Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate III Degree<\/em><\/strong> Nomination: Chamber instrumental music, ensemble<\/strong><\/p>\n Laureate I Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate II Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate III Degree<\/em><\/strong> Nomination: Chamber instrumental music, solo<\/strong><\/p>\n Laureate I Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate II Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate III Degree<\/em><\/strong> Nomination: Restoration of Archival Audio Recordings<\/strong><\/p>\n Laureate I Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate II Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate III Degree<\/em><\/strong> Mixed nomination<\/strong><\/p>\n Laureate I Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate II Degree<\/em><\/strong> Laureate III Degree<\/em><\/strong>
Dmitri Kourliandski \u2013 Octavia. Trepanation<\/u><\/strong>
Authors: Dmitry Kourliandski, Boris Yukhananov<\/em>
Performers: Questa Musica Ensemble, Sergey Malinin, Alexey Kokhanov, Arina Zvereva, Vasily Korostylev, Yuri Duvanov, Oleg Makarov<\/em>
Sound engineer: Alexander Mikhlin<\/em>
Producer: Sergey Krasin<\/em>
Publisher: FANCYMUSIC<\/em><\/p>\n
Media Opera \u201cPlanet P\u201d<\/u><\/strong>
Authors: Iraida Yusupova, Vera Pavlova<\/em>
Performers: conductor Anastasia Braudo, soloists Natalya Pavlova, Pavel Bykov, Alisa Gitsba, ensemble of soloists of the orchestra \u201cNew Russia\u201d<\/em>
Sound engineer: Dmitry Misailov<\/em>
Producer: Iraida Yusupova<\/em>
Publisher: Iraida Yusupova<\/em><\/p>\n
Alexander Manotskov \u2013 52<\/u><\/strong>
Authors: Alexander Manotskov, Lev Rubinstein<\/em>
Performers: Victoria Artyukhova, Anna Vishnyakova, Elena Belkina, Alexander Zakharenko, Vladimir Rozanov, Elena Raskova<\/em>
Sound engineers: Alexey Titov, Ruslan Zaypold<\/em>
Producer: Sergey Krasin<\/em>
Publisher: FANCYMUSIC<\/em><\/p>\n
Russian Christmas. Russian choral music from lowercase singing to the 20th century<\/u><\/strong>
Authors: Vasily Titov, Vasily Gusev, Dmitry Bortnyansky, Sergei Rachmaninov, Sergei Taneyev, Georgy Sviridov, Igor Stravinsky, Galina Grigorieva, Alfred Schnittke, Nikolai Leontovich<\/em>
Performers: Vocal Ensemble INTRADA, conductor Ekaterina Antonenko<\/em>
Sound engineers: Maria Soboleva, Mikhail Spassky, Elena Sych<\/em>
Producer: Evgeny Platonov<\/em>
Publisher: Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory<\/em><\/p>\n
Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov: Choral music. Full collection of original choral compositions, arrangements of Russian folk songs<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Anatoly Lyadov<\/em>
Performers: The Academy of Russian Music Chamber Choir, conductor Ivan Nikiforchin, Dmitry Korostelev, Alexey Shevchenko, Maria Uspenskaya, Yulia Likhacheva, Nika Ryabchinenko, Kirill Panfilov, Ksenia Abaimova<\/em>
Sound engineer: Ilya Dontsov<\/em>
Producers: Igor Prokhorov, Yuri Abdokov<\/em>
Publisher: Toccata Classics<\/em><\/p>\n
Anthology of Contemporary Choral Music by Russian Composers. Volume 2. St. Petersburg. The works of S. Slonimsky<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Sergey Slonimsky<\/em>
Performers: Tatiana Mineeva (soprano); Polina Shamaeva (mezzo-soprano); Andrey Bashkov (tenor); Dmitry Kuznetsov (bass); conductor — Lev Kontorovich, Symphony Orchestra of the Moscow Conservatory, Academic Bolshoi Choir \u201cMasters of Choral Singing\u201d, Chamber Choir of the Moscow Conservatory, Tula State Choir, chief conductor — Georgy Avgustinovich, chief choirmaster — Sergei Sidorenko, artistic director of choirs — Alexander Solovyov<\/em>
Sound engineers: Svetlana Spasskaya, Ruslana Oreshnikova<\/em>
Producer: Russian Union of Composers<\/em>
Publisher: JSC \u201cFirma Melodiya\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Reviving the legacy of Russian composers. Leonid Polovinkin<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Leonid Polovinkin<\/em>
Performers: Radio Orpheus Symphony Orchestra, conductor Sergei Kondrashev; Olga Ionova (soprano)<\/em>
Sound engineer: Alexander Volkov<\/em>
Producer: Oksana Seryozhenko<\/em>
Publisher: Russian State Music TV and Radio Center<\/em><\/p>\n
Mosolov \u2013 Symphony No. 5 & Harp Concerto<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Alexander Mosolov<\/em>
Performers: Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Arthur Arnold (\u0441onductor), Taylor Fleshman (harp)<\/em>
Sound engineers: Maria Soboleva, Elena Sych<\/em>
Producer: Max Gutbrod<\/em>
Publisher: Naxos<\/em><\/p>\n
Alexander Sladkovsky, Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra \u2013 Tchaikovsky 2020<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Pyotr Tchaikovsky<\/em>
Performers: State Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Tatarstan conducted by Alexander Sladkovsky; soloists Boris Berezovsky, Miroslav Kultyshev, Maxim Mogilevsky, Alexander Malofeev, Boris Andrianov, Pavel Milyukov<\/em>
Sound engineer: Pavel Lavrenenkov<\/em>
Producer: Alexey Pilyugin<\/em>
Publisher: Sony Music Entertainment Russia<\/em><\/p>\n
Sergei Rachmaninoff. Romances<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Sergei Rachmaninoff<\/em>
Performers: Lyubov Petrova (soprano), Elena Savelyeva (piano)<\/em>
Sound engineers: Mikhail Spassky, Elena Sych<\/em>
Producer: Evgeny Platonov<\/em>
Publisher: Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory<\/em><\/p>\n
Vsevolod P. Zaderatsky. Vocal cycle \u201cPoem about a Russian soldier\u201d<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Vsevolod P. Zaderatsky.<\/em>
Performers: Vasily Sokolov, Valentina Zagadkina<\/em>
Sound engineer: Ilya Karpov<\/em>
Producers: Ekaterina Marova, Elena Udovitskaya<\/em>
Publisher: Association (Union) \u201cMusical Planet\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Medtner: \u2018Incantation\u2019 Complete Songs Volume 1<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Nikolai Medtner<\/em>
Performers: Ekaterina Levental, Frank Peters<\/em>
Sound engineer: Frerik de Jong<\/em>
Producers: Ekaterina Levental, Frank Peters<\/em>
Publisher: Brilliant Classics<\/em><\/p>\n
Pavel Karmanov: Music for Alexey Lyubimov<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Pavel Karmanov<\/em>
Performers: Alexey Lyubimov, OpensoundOrchestra<\/em>
Sound engineer: Mikhail Spassky<\/em>
Producer: Karina Abramyan<\/em>
Publisher: JSC \u201cFirma Melodiya\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Divertissement Chamber Orchestra \u2013 White Balance<\/u><\/strong>
Authors: Nastasya Khrushcheva, Sergey Akhunov, Anatoly Korolev<\/em>
Performer: Chamber Orchestra \u201cDivertissement\u201d<\/em>
Sound engineer: Alexey Barashkin<\/em>
Producer: Sergey Krasin<\/em>
Publisher: FANCYMUSIC<\/em><\/p>\n
Yuri Butsko. Chamber works<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Yuri Butsko<\/em>
Performers: Anna Savkina (violin), Evgeny Rumyantsev (cello), Yulia Kupriyanova (piano)<\/em>
Sound engineer: Ruslana Oreshnikova<\/em>
Producer: Evgeny Platonov<\/em>
Publisher: Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory<\/em><\/p>\n
Sound Review 2\/6<\/u><\/strong>
Authors: Sofia Gubaidulina, Edison Denisov, Arvo P\u00e4rt, Vladimir Martynov, Valentin Silvestrov, Nikolay Karetnikov, Alexander Vustin, Dmitry Smirnov, Vladimir Tarnopolsky<\/em>
Performer: Mikhail Dubov<\/em>
Sound engineer: Mikhail Spassky<\/em>
Producer: Russian Union of Composers<\/em>
Publisher: JSC \u201cFirma Melodiya\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Like Breath. Carillon improvisations<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Olesya Rostovskaya<\/em>
Performer: Olesya Rostovskaya<\/em>
Sound engineer: Alexey Pogarsky<\/em>
Producer: Olesya Rostovskaya<\/em>
Publisher: Creative Association \u201cArtes Mirabiles\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Balakirev Complete Piano Works 4: Scherzi and Other Works<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Mily Balakirev<\/em>
Performer: Nicholas Walker<\/em>
Sound engineer: Ben Connellan<\/em>
Producer: Jeremy Hayes<\/em>
Publisher: Naxos Grand Piano<\/em><\/p>\n
Shostakovich plays Shostakovich (CD No. 4)<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Dmitry Shostakovich<\/em>
Performers: Dmitry Shostakovich, David Oistrakh, Milos Sadlo, Beethoven Quartet<\/em>
Sound engineer: Alexander Grossman (tracks 5-9)<\/em>
Sound engineer-restorer: Nadezhda Radugina<\/em>
Producer: JSC \u201cFirma Melodiya\u201d<\/em>
Publisher: JSC \u201cFirma Melodiya\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Nikolay Karetnikov. Symphony No. 4<\/u><\/strong>
Author: Nikolay Karetnikov<\/em>
Performers: State Symphony Orchestra of the USSR Ministry of Culture, conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky<\/em>
Sound engineer: Igor Veprintsev<\/em>
Sound engineer-restorer: Elena Barykina<\/em>
Producer: JSC \u201cFirma Melodiya\u201d<\/em>
Publisher: JSC \u201cFirma Melodiya\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Svyatoslav Richter in ensembles<\/u><\/strong>
Authors: Nikolay Myaskovsky, Dmitry Shostakovich<\/em>
Performers: Svyatoslav Richter (piano), Mstislav Rostropovich (cello); Borodin Quartet: Rostislav Dubinsky (violin I), Yaroslav Alexandrov (violin II), Dmitry Shebalin (viola), Valentin Berlinsky (cello)<\/em>
Sound engineer-restorer: Elena Doinikova<\/em>
Producer: Evgeny Platonov<\/em>
Publisher: Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory<\/em><\/p>\n
German Galynin. The first complete anthology of chamber orchestral scores and string ensembles<\/u><\/strong>
Author: German Galynin<\/em>
Performers: Chamber Orchestra \u201cAcademy of Russian Music\u201d, conductor Ivan Nikiforchin; Anastasia Latysheva, Arina Minaeva, Anastasia Benchich, Ksenia Kharitonova, Anna Shcherbakova<\/em>
Sound engineer: Ilya Dontsov<\/em>
Producers: Igor Prokhorov, Yuri Abdokov<\/em>
Publisher: Toccata Classics<\/em><\/p>\n
The \u201cBlue Bird\u201d ballet based on the play by Maurice Maeterlinck<\/u><\/strong>
Authors: Ilya Sats, Efrem Podgaits<\/em>
Performers: Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Moscow State Academic Children\u2019s Musical Theater named after Natalia Sats, conductor Konstantin Khvatynets<\/em>
Sound engineer: Maria Shokina<\/em>
Producer: Moscow State Academic Children’s Musical Theater named after N.I. Sats<\/em>
Publisher: Moscow State Academic Children’s Musical Theater named after N.I. Sats<\/em><\/p>\n
Sound Review 4\/6<\/u><\/strong>
Authors: Natalia Prokopenko, Nikolay Popov, Anton Safronov, Elmir Nizamov, Alexey Sysoev, Alina Podzorova, Oleg Gudachev<\/em>