Contemporary instrumentalists (String Players). Учебное пособие по английскому языку для студентов оркестровых факультетов музыкальных вузов

UNIT 4

Yuri Bashmet (viola)

Through his virtuosity, strength of personality and high intelligence, Yuri Bashmet has given the viola a new prominence in musical life. The pre-eminent viola player of the modern age, he has motivated the leading composers of our time to expand the repertoire with significant new music. He is Artistic Director of the December Evenings Festival, Moscow, Principal Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of New Russia, and is the founder/director of Moscow Soloists. He also appears throughout the world in the dual role of conductor/soloist.

Born in 1953 in Rostov-on-Don in Russia, he spent his childhood in Lvov in Ukraine before studying at the Moscow Conservatoire with Vadim Borisovsky (of the Beethoven Quartet) and Feodor Druzhinin. His international career was launched in 1976 when he won the International Viola Competition in Munich. Since then he has appeared with all the world’s great orchestras.

He has inspired many composers to write for him, and has enjoyed strong personal and professional relationships with Alfred Schnittke and Sofia Gubaidulina in particular. Schnittke’s Viola Concerto, written for him, is now firmly established in the repertoire. Other concertos composed for him include works by Poul Ruders, Alexander Tchaikovsky and Alexander Raskatov. He has also given the world premieres of Styx by Giya Kancheli, The Myrrh Bearer by John Tavener and On Opened Groundby MarkAnthony Turnage — all of which were written for him.

In December 2002 Bashmet became Principal Conductor of the newly formed Symphony Orchestra of New Russia, with which he has embarked upon a series of concerts in Moscow, with touring plans in Russia, Italy, France and the UK. Other orchestras with which he appears as conductor/soloist include for example the Dresdner Philharmoniker, Tokyo Philharmonic, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, Camerata Salzburg, Royal

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Liverpool Philharmonic, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Brussels Philharmonic. He is also founder of Moscow Soloists, an ensemble he has performed with and directed throughout the world since 1992. This renowned chamber orchestra has been rapturously received in Moscow, Amsterdam, Paris, Tokyo, New York and at the BBC Proms, London.

In chamber music his closest collaborators have included Sviatoslav Richter, Gidon Kremer, Mstislav Rostropovich, Maxim Vengerov, Natalia Gutman, Viktoria Mullova and the Borodin Quartet. Among his many CDs there are critically-acclaimed series of recordings: chamber symphonies by Shostakovich, Sviridov and Vainberg; music by Stravinsky and Prokofiev and a disc of music by composers from the Far East, plus a recital disc of Encores with pianist Mikhail Muntian.

He was described by The Times as «without doubt, one of the world’s greatest living musicians». Yuri Bashmet brings an enquiring and perceptive mind to life beyond classical music. He plays a 1758 Testore viola (a similar model to the one Mozart played) which he bought in 1971.

I. Fill in the gaps with derivatives of the words in brackets:

1.Through his virtuosity, strength of ______ (person) and high intelligence, Yuri Bashmet has given the viola a new prominence in ______ (music) life.

2.The pre-eminent viola _____ (play) of the modern age, he has

_______ (motive) the leading _______ (compose) of our time to expand the repertoire with significant new music.

3.He also appears ______ (through) the world in the dual role of conductor/soloist.

4.Born in 1953 in Rostov-on-Don in Russia, he spent his _____

(child) in Lvоv in Ukraine before studying at the Moscow Conservatoire with Vadim Borisovsky (of the Beethoven Quartet) and Feodor Druzhinin.

5.He has inspired many composers to write for him, and has enjoyed strong ______ (person) and professional ______ (relate) with Alfred Schnittke and Sofia Gubaidulina in particular.

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6.Schnittke’s Viola Concerto, written for him, is now _____ (firm) established in the repertoire.

7.In December 2002 Bashmet became Principal Conductor of the

_____ (new) formed Symphony Orchestra of New Russia, with which he has embarked upon a series of concerts in Moscow, with touring plans in Russia, Italy, France and the UK.

8.He is also _______ (founded) of Moscow Soloists, an ensemble he has performed with and directed throughout the world since 1992.

9.In chamber music his _____ (close) collaborators have included Sviatoslav Richter, Gidon Kremer, Mstislav Rostropovich, Maxim Vengerov, Natalia Gutman, Viktoria Mullova and the Borodin Quartet.

10.Among his many CDs there are critically-acclaimed series of

______ (record): chamber symphonies by Shostakovich, Sviridov and Vainberg; music by Stravinsky and Prokofiev and a disc of music by composers from the Far East, plus a ______ (recite) disc of Encores with _____(piano) Mikhail Muntian.

11.He was described by The Times as «without doubt, one of the world’s greatest living _____ (music)».

12.Yuri Bashmet brings an enquiring and _______ (perceive) mind to life beyond ______ (classic) music.

II. Use the appropriate verb form to fill each of the gaps:

1.The pre-eminent viola player of the modern age, Yuri Bashmet

________ (motivate) the leading composers of our time to _______

(expand) the repertoire with significant new music.

2.Born in 1953 in Rostov-on-Don in Russia, he ______ (spend) his childhood in Lvov in Ukraine before ______ (study) at the Moscow Conservatoire with Vadim Borisovsky (of the Beethoven Quartet) and Feodor Druzhinin.

3.His international career ______ (launch) in 1976 when he won the International Viola Competition in Munich. Since then he has appeared with all the world’s great orchestras.

4.He ______ (inspire) many composers to ______ (write) for him, and ______ (enjoy) strong personal and professional

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relationships with Alfred Schnittke and Sofia Gubaidulina in particular.

5.Schnittke’s Viola Concerto, written for him, is now firmly

________ (establish) in the repertoire.

6.Other concertos _______ (compose) for him include works by Poul Ruders, Alexander Tchaikovsky and Alexander Raskatov.

7.In December 2002 Bashmet ______ (become) Principal Conductor of the newly ______ (form) Symphony Orchestra of New Russia, with which he ______ (embark) upon a series of concerts in Moscow, with _____ (tour) plans in Russia, Italy, France and the UK.

8.He is also founder of Moscow Soloists, an ensemble he _______

(perform) with and directed throughout the world since 1992.

9.This renowned chamber orchestra has been rapturously _______

(receive) in Moscow, Amsterdam, Paris, Tokyo, New York and at the BBC Proms, London.

10.In chamber music his closest collaborators _______ (include) Sviatoslav Richter, Gidon Kremer, Mstislav Rostropovich, Maxim Vengerov, and others.

11.He _______ (describe) by The Times as «without doubt, one of the world’s greatest living musicians».

12.Yuri Bashmet ______ (bring) an enquiring and perceptive mind to life beyond classical music.

13.He plays a 1758 Testore viola (a similar model to the one Mozart played) which he _____ (buy) in 1971.

III. Insert prepositions where necessary:

1.____ his virtuosity, strength ____ personality and high intelligence, Yuri Bashmet has given the viola a new prominence

____ musical life.

2.The pre-eminent viola player ____ the modern age, he has motivated the leading composers ____ our time ____ expand the repertoire ____ significant new music.

3.He is Artistic Director ____ the December Evenings Festival, Moscow, Principal Conductor ____ the Symphony Orchestra ____

New Russia, and is the founder/director ____ Moscow Soloists.

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4.He also appears throughout the world ____ the dual role ____

conductor/soloist.

5.Born ____ 1953 ____ Rostov-on-Don ____ Russia, he spent his childhood ____ Lvov ____ Ukraine ____ studying ____ the Moscow Conservatoire ____ Vadim Borisovsky ____ the Beethoven Quartet) and Feodor Druzhinin.

6.His international career was launched ____ 1976 when he won the International Viola Competition ____ Munich.

7.Since then he has appeared ____ all the world’s great orchestras.

8.He has inspired many composers ____ write ____ him, and has enjoyed strong personal and professional relationships ____

Alfred Schnittke and Sofia Gubaidulina ____ particular.

9.Schnittke’s Viola Concerto, written ____ him, is now firmly established ____ the repertoire. Other concertos composed ____

him include works ____ Poul Ruders, Alexander Tchaikovsky and Alexander Raskatov.

10.He has also given the world premieres ____ Styx ____ Giya Kancheli, The Myrrh Bearer ____ John Tavener and On Opened Ground ____ Mark-Anthony Turnage — all ____ which were written ____ him.

11.____ December 2002 Bashmet became Principal Conductor

____ the newly formed Symphony Orchestra ____ New Russia,

____ which he has embarked upon a series ____ concerts ____

Moscow, ____ touring plans ____ Russia, Italy, France and the UK.

12.Other orchestras ____ which he appears as conductor/soloist include ____ example the Dresdner Philharmoniker, Tokyo Philharmonic, and others.

13.He is also founder ____ Moscow Soloists, an ensemble he has performed ____ and directed throughout the world since 1992.

14.This renowned chamber orchestra has been rapturously received ____ Moscow, Amsterdam, Paris, Tokyo, New York and

____ the BBC Proms, London.

15.____ chamber music his closest collaborators have included Sviatoslav Richter, Gidon Kremer, Mstislav Rostropovich, Maxim Vengerov, Natalia Gutman, Viktoria Mullova and the Borodin Quartet.

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16.____ his many CDs there are critically-acclaimed series ____

recordings: chamber symphonies ____ Shostakovich, Sviridov and Vainberg; music ____ Stravinsky and Prokofiev and a disc ____

music ____ composers ____ the Far East, plus a recital disc ____

Encores ____ pianist Mikhail Muntian.

17.He was described ____ The Times as «without doubt, one ____

the world’s greatest living musicians».

18.Yuri Bashmet brings an enquiring and perceptive mind ____ life beyond classical music.

19.He plays a 1758 Testore viola (a similar model ____ the one Mozart played) which he bought ____ 1971.

IV. Fill the gaps with the words below:

age, are, firmly, from, greatest, have, high, launched, mind, musical, newly, particular, plans, played, plays, relationships, role, significant, strength, write

1.Through his virtuosity, _______ of personality and _______

intelligence, Yuri Bashmet has given the viola a new prominence in _______ life.

2.The pre-eminent viola player of the modern _______, he has motivated the leading composers of our time to expand the repertoire with _______ new music.

3.He also appears throughout the world in the dual _______ of conductor/soloist.

4.His international career was _______ in 1976 when he won the International Viola Competition in Munich.

5.He has inspired many composers to _______ for him, and has enjoyed strong personal and professional _______ with Alfred Schnittke and Sofia Gubaidulina in _______.

6.Schnittke’s Viola Concerto, written for him, is now _______

established in the repertoire.

7.In December 2002 Bashmet became Principal Conductor of the

_______ formed Symphony Orchestra of New Russia, with which he has embarked upon a series of concerts in Moscow, with touring

_______ in Russia, Italy, France and the UK.

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8.In chamber music his closest collaborators _______ included Sviatoslav Richter, Gidon Kremer, Mstislav Rostropovich, Maxim Vengerov, Natalia Gutman, Viktoria Mullova and the Borodin Quartet.

9.Among his many CDs there _______ critically-acclaimed series of recordings: chamber symphonies by Shostakovich, Sviridov and Vainberg; music by Stravinsky and Prokofiev and a disc of music by composers _______ the Far East, plus a recital disc of Encores with pianist Mikhail Muntian.

10.He was described by The Times as «without doubt, one of the world’s _______ living musicians».

11.Yuri Bashmet brings an enquiring and perceptive _______ to life beyond classical music.

12.He _______ a 1758 Testore viola (a similar model to the one Mozart _______) which he bought in 1971.

V.Fill the gaps with suitable fragments:

a)  when he won the International Viola Competition in Munich b)  Moscow, Principal Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of New Russia

c)  and perceptive mind to life beyond classical music

d)  with which he has embarked upon a series of concerts in Moscow

e)  which he bought in 1971

f)  chamber symphonies by Shostakovich g)  with all the world’s great orchestras

h)  strength of personality and high intelligence i)  written for him

j)  Alexander Tchaikovsky and Alexander Raskatov

Through his virtuosity, (1) ____, Yuri Bashmet has given the viola a new prominence in musical life. He is Artistic Director of the December Evenings Festival, (2) ____, and is the founder/director of Moscow Soloists.

His international career was launched in 1976 (3) ____. Since then he has appeared (4) ____.

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Schnittke’s Viola Concerto, (5) ____, is now firmly established in the repertoire. Other concertos composed for him include works by Poul Ruders, (6) ____.

In December 2002 Bashmet became Principal Conductor of the newly formed Symphony Orchestra of New Russia, (7) ____, with touring plans in Russia, Italy, France and the UK.

Among his many CDs there are critically-acclaimed series of recordings: (8) ____, Sviridov and Vainberg; music by Stravinsky and Prokofiev and a disc of music by composers from the Far East, plus a recital disc of Encores with pianist Mikhail Muntian.

Yuri Bashmet brings an enquiring (9) ____. He plays a 1758 Testore viola (a similar model to the one Mozart played) (10) ____.

VI. Answer the following questions.

1.  In what role doesYuri Bashmetappear throughout the world? 2.  What posts does he occupy?

3.  Where and when was he born?

4.  What conservatory did he graduate?

5.  Under whose direction did he study at the conservatory? 6.  When was his international career launched?

7.  What composers has he inspired to write for him?

8.  When did Bashmet become Principal Conductor of the newly formed Symphony Orchestra of New Russia?

9.  With what orchestras does he appear as conductor/soloist? 10.  Who are his closest collaborators in chamber music?

11.  What viola does he play?

VII. True or false?

1.  Yuri Bashmet has given the viola a new prominence in musical life.

2.  He is a pre-eminent violin player of the modern age.

3.  He has motivated the leading composers of our time to expand the repertoire with significant new music.

4.  His touring plans include exclusively Russia.

5.  He has directed and performed with Moscow Soloists throughout the world since 1992.

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6.  Among his many CDs there are critically-acclaimed series of recordings of chamber symphonies only by Soviet composers.

7.  He is without doubt one of the world’s greatest living musicians.

VIII. Find English equivalents in the text:

a)  исключительный альтист современности

b)  расширять репертуар значительной новой музыкой c)  двойная роль дирижера/солиста

d)  вдохновлять многих композиторов на написание e)  музыки для него

f)  гастрольные планы

g)  один из величайших живущих музыкантов h)  прочно вошедший в репертуар

i)  оркестр был принят восторженно

j)  виртуозность, сила личности и высокий интеллект

IX. What is the Russian for:

a)  virtuosity, strength of personality and high intelligence b)  the pre-eminent viola player of the modern age

c)  to expand the repertoire with significant new music d)  the dual role of conductor/soloist

e)  to inspire many composers to write for him f)  firmly established in the repertoire

g)  touring plans

h)  the orchestra has been rapturously received i)  one of the world’s greatest living musicians

X. Complete the sentences using word combinations below.

1.  He has motivated the leading composers of our time ___

2.  He also appears throughout the world ___

3.  His international career was launched in 1976 ___

4.  He has enjoyed strong personal and professional relationships

___

5.  In December 2002 Bashmet became Principal Conductor of ___

6.  In chamber music his closest collaborators have included ___

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7.  He was described by The Times as ___

8.  Yuri Bashmet plays ___

a)  Sviatoslav Richter, Gidon Kremer, Mstislav Rostropovich, Maxim Vengerov, Natalia Gutman, Viktoria Mullova and the Borodin.

b)  «without doubt, one of the world’s greatest living musicians». c)  the newly formed Symphony Orchestra of New Russia.

d)  when he won the International Viola Competition in Munich. e)  to expand the repertoire with significant new music.

f)  a 1758 Testore viola (a similar model to the one Mozart played) which he bought in 1971.

g)  with Alfred Schnittke and Sofia Gubaidulina in particular. h)  in the dual role of conductor/soloist.

XI. Retell the text using active vocabulary.

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