Vladimir Mkrtumov, a remarkable musician and Honored Artist of Turkmenistan, is turning 50 years old today. The Turkmenistan Golden Age website team wishes the virtuoso pianist good health, prosperity and every success. Happy Birthday! Ahead of his birthday, Vladimir Mkrtumov answered our correspondent’s questions in an interview.
Vladimir came to music accidentally. His school singing teacher spotted his musical talent and strongly advised his parents to send Volodya to music school. The young boy began to study with outstanding teacher Tatiana Georgievna Bernichenko. It was Tatiana Georgievna who played a decisive role in his development as a musician.
The pianist continued his education at the Moscow Conservatory’s Music College, and later studied at the Turkmen National Conservatory under the tutelage of A. A. Starikov. A while ago, Vladimir gave a solo recital to pay tribute to his mentor.
Vladimir is convinced that a favorite composer for any pianist is the one whose composition is being played here and now, having clarified that he feels a special affinity with works by some composers. They are Beethoven, Brahms, Rachmaninov, and Prokofiev. In a fruitful collaboration with People’s Artist of Turkmenistan Atageldy Garyagdyev, the musician has already performed 80-plus vocal pieces of music by Turkmen composers.
Vladimir’s interests in music go far beyond classical pieces. The maestro listens to and performs richly diverse music ranging from jazz to pop music: from Keith Jarrett to George Michael.
Vladimir also reflected on the tribute concert to the iconic British band The Beatles with his participation.
- The Beatles represent an epoch in music. They made look at pop music of the 1960s in a totally different way. For instance, Leonard Bernstein, the world-famous conductor and composer, considered Paul McCartney and John Lennon to be quite serious composers. I feel a close affinity with Paul McCartney: his melodic gift and long-spanning career are immensely impressive.
Making a comparison between pop music and classical music, Vladimir says that “pop music is like sweet food, and food high in sugar is bad for teeth.”
- Classical music is not so easily and immediately accessible and it takes intellectual effort to understand it. But if members of the audience have discovered this world, they will undoubtedly experience a much wider gamut of emotions.
The musicians also made mention of his joint projects with foreign performers.
- In 2004, I performed with the brilliant Israeli cellist Amit Peled, the musician recollected. Thanks to the Rossotrudnichestvo (the Russian Cooperation Agency) representative office in Ashgabat I performed in joint concerts with the soloist of the Mariinsky Academy of Young Opera Singers, mezzo-soprano Tsvetana Omelchuk, and rector of the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, cellist Aleksey Vasiliev. It was quite challenging to play voluminous works as we had had two rehearsals only, but everything went without a hitch. One more wonderful concert deserves a mention. Organized by Turkmen musicians, it was held in the Rachmaninov Hall of the Moscow Conservatory in 2018 to mark the 70th anniversary of Nury Khalmamedov’s birth.
Another hobby of the pianist is playing the intellectual game ‘What? Where? When?’ The musician is fascinated by the game as it offers players the challenge to answer tricky questions within a short period of time, using their knowledge. Vladimir has an inquisitive mind and takes great delight in learning new things.
Roman TEPLYAKOV
Photo: Yuri SHKURIN
