Orchestra Masterpieces: J. Sibelius, E. Grieg, P. Tchaikovsky

Grigory Korchmar (born 1947) is a famous Petersburgian composer and pianist, Honoured Arts’ Worker of Russia, Laureate of the 1st prize at the International S. S. Prokofiev Composers’ Competition, professor of the Composition Department at the St. Petersburg State Conservatoire. In 2006 he was elected as the chairman of the St. Petersburg composers’ Union. 

More than 160 opuses in different genres (opera, symphony, choir, chamber vocal and instrumental music, numerous opuses for children and youths) are embraced by Grigory Korchmar. His concerts are held in St. Petersburg and Moscow, the USA (New-York, Boston and Hartford), Germany (Berlin, Kцln), Japan (Tokyo), Israel (Jerusalem). His compositions are on roll at the most prestigious festivals in Russia, Western Europe, Northern and Southern America and Asia. Korchmar’s music is published and recorded in Russia and abroad. Among the performers in touch with him are the symphony orchestras, choirs and ensembles all over the world. His music is presented by such famous conductors as M. Janssons, A. Dmitriyev, V. Chernushenko, D. Liss, J. Silverstein, J.-P. Dessy, J. Mercier, G. Rinkeviius, so as the soloists Yu. Bashmet, T. Pavlovskaya, B. Pergamenshchikov.  

Grigory Korchmar’s life is inseparably welded with both piano and composition. Remember his laureateship of the 1st prize at the All-Russia Chamber Ensembles Competition (nomination “piano duet”). The composer carries on solo concert activity, making listeners acquainted with the music of different epochs — from baroque up to nowadays. Ensemble performing is one of his true passions, while there is a well-known chamber group “St. Petersburg Soloists”, where the parts of piano and cembalo have been performed by Korchmar for almost 25 years all over the world.  

However, this is the genre of transcription to have become the composer’s special music sphere. World classics of the three last centuries arranged for orchestra, ensemble, piano and vice versa give evidence of Grigory Korchmar filling the world music treasury due to his versatile gift.

Contents:

J. Sibelius. VALSE TRISTE. From the music to the drama “Death” by A. Jrnefelt (1904) (Music text example)

E. Grieg. ANITRA’S DANCE. From the music to the drama “Peer Gynt” (1876/1888) by H. Ibsen

P. I. Tchaikovsky. WALTZ OF FLOWERS. From the ballet “Nut-cracker”, op. 71 (1892)