Airat Ichmouratov

Airat Ichmouratov Айрат Ишмуратов
Airat Ichmouratov after performance of Turandot at Tatarstan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, Kazan, Russia 28 November 2012
Born	Airat Rafailovich Ichmouratov (1973-06-28)28 June 1973 Kazan  Soviet Union
Citizenship	Canada ,  Russia
Alma mater	Kazan State Conservatory
Occupation	Conductor, Composer, Klezmer Clarinetist
Years active	1994–present
Website	www.airatichmouratov.com

Airat Rafailovich Ichmouratov (Russian: Айрат Рафаилович Ишмуратов, Tatar Cyrillic: Айрат Рафаил улы Ишмурат,) born June 28, 1973) is a Volga Tatar born Russian / Canadian composer , conductor and klezmer clarinetist. He is conductor and composer in residence of Montreal-based "Nouvelle Génération" Chamber Orchestra,^[1] clarinetist of Montreal-based Klezmer group Kleztory^[2] and invited professor at Laval University^[3] in Quebec , Canada

Early life

Ichmouratov was born and raised in Kazan, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, he is second child of Razima Icmouratova (Gatina) and Rafail Ichmouratov. He studied Clarinet at the Kazan Music School N3, Kazan Music College and Kazan Conservatory, graduating in 1996. In 1993, when he was appointed as Associate clarinetist of the Tatarstan’s Opera and Ballet Theatre, and of the Kazan State Symphony Orchestra, he began to extensively tour in Europe. In 1997, Ichmouratov comes to Canada to participate as student at Orford Art's Centre Festival, where he met Yuli Turovsky, Soviet-born Canadian cellist and conductor, who later became his close mentor.

Career

In 1998, Ichmouratov permanently moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where he obtained a Master degree at the University of Montreal,^[4] where he studied with Andre Moisan. He then founded the Muczynski Trio^[5] with Luo Di -Cello and Evgenia Kirjner on piano, which won 1st prize and the Grand Award at the National Music Festival (Canada, 2002) and 1st Prize at the 8th International Chamber Music Competition in Kraków (Poland, 2004).^[6]

Conductor

Ichmouratov's first conducting job, after obtaining his Doctorat degree in Orchestra Conducting at University of Montreal (2005) was with chamber orchestra Les Violons du Roy in Quebec City, where he was assistant conductor of renown specialist in Baroque and Classical repertoire, Canadian conductor Bernard Labadie.^[7] Les Violons du Roy's Concert on 5.12.2008 "Russian Impressions" under Ichmouratov’s direction, also presented the world premiere of his own Cello Concerto, won the Opus Prize in the category – Best concert of the Year.^[8] Airat was appointed to the position of Resident Conductor of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra from 2009 until 2011,^[9] where he was assisting Israeli conductor and composer Yoav Talmi. In 2011, replacing on short notice Yuli Turovsky - Mr Ichmouratov conducted I Musici de Montréal Chamber Orchestra on tour in USA,^[10] Brazil^[11] and Peru.^[12] In October 2011 he made his debut with Tatarstan Academic State Opera and Ballet Theatre (Russia) and was immediately re invited to conduct Puccini’s Turandot^[13] and Verdi's Rigoletto during the 2012-13 season and on the following European Tour.

Kleztory

Kleztory at Rideau Showcase,18 February 2015, Quebec city, Canada

In 2000, Mr. Ichmouratov joined the klezmer group Kleztory, in which he presently plays the clarinet, composes and arranges. In 2004, Kleztory recorded for the Chandos Records (Great Britain)^[14] CD with I Musici de Montréal Chamber Orchestra and Yuli Turovsky.^[15] In 2007 Kleztory’s album "Nomade" won the Opus Prize.^[16] Most recent (2014) Album "Arrival" was nominated as Best album of the year in Traditional music category by ADISQ.^[17] In 2012 Kleztory won klezmer Furth Prize at International Klezmer festival and Competition in Amsterdam and as result appeared at Furth Klezmer Festival during the following spring^[18] .^[19] With Kleztory, Mr. Ichmouratov has appeared as soloist with several orchestras including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra,^[20] the Quebec Symphony Orchestra,^[21] I Musici de Montréal Chamber Orchestra, Les Violons du Roy^[22] and Brussels Chamber Orchestra and toured intensively in Canada, USA, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Romania and China.

Composer

The music of Airat Ichmouratov has been performed by a wide range of ensembles and musicians in countries around the world, including Maxim Vengerov,^[23] Jonathan Crow, Andrew Wan, Eric Paetkau, Alexis Hauser, Jean Francois Rivest, Alexandre Da Costa , Alain Trudel, Stephane Laforest, Andre Moisan, Mark Simons, Yegor Dyachkov, Max Pollak, Stephane Tetreault, Sasha Mirkovic & ensemble Metamorphosis (Serbia), Quebec Symphony Orchestra,^[24] Orchestre Métropolitain,^[25] Taipei Symphony Orchestra,^[26] Amadeus Chamber Orchestra of Polish Radio,^[27] Les Violons du Roy, Orchestra London, Longueuil Symphony Orchestra, New Orford String Quartet,^[28] Yuli Turovsky & I Musici de Montreal, 13 Strings (Ottawa), Tatarstan State Symphony Orchestra (Russia), La Primavera Chamber Orchestra, Alcan Quartet,^[29] Molinari Quartet,^[30] Orford Camerata Ensemble, Sinfonia Toronto,^[31] Nouvelle Generation Chamber orchestra just to name a few.

Ichmouratov was named as Resident Composer 2012 at Concerts aux îles du Bic (Canada),^[32] in 2013 Composer of Summer at Orford Arts Centre (Canada)^[33] and in 2015 Summer Composer at 17e édition of Festival Classique des Hautes-Laurentides (Canada).^[34] Since 2010 Ichmouratov is Associate Composer with Canadian Music Centre.^[35]

Discography

• Klezmer music, Kleztory (2002)
• Barber, Copland, Britten, Bruch, Kazan Chamber Orchestra La Primavera, Ak Bars (2002)^[36]
• Klezmer, Kleztory, Yuli Turovsky & I Musici de Montreal Chamber Orchestra, Chandos Records(2004)
• Nomade, Kleztory, Opus Award winner 2007, Amerix (2007)^[37]
• Shostakovich,Weinberg,Ichmouratov, I Musici de Montreal Chamber Orchestra, Analekta (2008)^[38]
• Symphonique , Le Vent du Nord et Quebec Symphony Orchestra , CBC (2010)^[39]
• Carte Postale, Alcan Quartet, ATMA Classique (2011)^[40]
• Beethoven, Violin Concerto (cadenzas by Ichmouratov), Symphony No. 7 , Alexandre Da Costa, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Warner Classics (2013)^[41]
• Arrival, Kleztory , Amerix(2014)

List of compositions

Orchestra

• Symphonic Fantasy after Armenian epos David of Sassoon Op.11 (2006)
• Halloweenesque Op.21 Valse for Halloween (2009)
• Overture Ville Cosmopolite Op.29 for Symphony Orchestra (2012)
• Overture Maslenitsa Op.36 for Symphony Orchestra (2013)
• Overture Youth Op.50 for Symphony Orchestra (2016)

Concerti with orchestra

• Concerto for Viola and Orchestra No1 Op.7 (2004)
• Concerto for Viola and String Orchestra with harpsicord No2 (in Baroque style) Op.41 (2015)
• Concerto for Oboe and Strings with Percussions Op.6 (2004)
• Concerto for Cello and String Orchestra with percussion Op.18 (2009)
• Concerto for Piano and Orchestra Op 40 (2014)
• Fantasy for Viola and Orchestra on D.Shostakovich’s opera “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District” Op.12 (2006)
• 3 Romances for Viola and Strings with Harp Op.22 (2009)
• Capriccio Rustico for Cello and Orchestra Op.26 (2010)
• The Ride of Cello Vello Buffon for Cello with Orchestra Op.27 (2010)
• Fantastic Dances for Clarinet, Cello and Piano with Strings and Percussion Op.15 (2007)
• The Final Procession for Clarinet, Cello and Piano with Strings and Percussion Op.37 (2013)
• The Arrival to the City for Clarinet, Cello and Piano with Strings and Percussion Op.38 (2013)
• Shabarsha for Tap Dancer and String Orchestra Op.39 (2013)
• Concerto grosso Op.28 for Clarinet, Violin, Viola , Cello , Piano and String Orchestra with Percussion (2011)
• Elegy for Violin and String Orchestra Op.32 (2012)
• Adagio and Allegro con brio for Violin and String Orchestra Op.43 (2015)
• Windcatcher for Clarinet and String Orchestra Op.17 (2008)
• Fantasia on klezmer themes No.1 Op.13 (2006)
• Sarasatiana Op.20 for 5 Violins and String Orchestra (2009)

Chamber music

• String Quartet No. 1 Op.1 (2003)
• String Quartet No.2 Op.5 / Chamber Symphony N2 for String Orchestra Op.5A (2009)
• String Quartet No. 3 Op.25 / Chamber Symphony N3 for String Orchestra Op.25A (2010)
• String Quartet N4 Op.35 / Chamber Symphony N4 for String Orchestra Op.35A (2013)
• 12 Preludes for woodwind Quintet Op.8 (2005)
• Sonata for Clarinet and Piano “The Bells” Op.9 (2005)
• Sonata for Viola and Piano Op.10 (2005)
• Fantasia on klezmer themes No.2 Op.16 for Clarinet, Piano and String Quartet (2008)
• Largo for Sanja for Oboe and Piano Op.46
• One day of an almost ordinary life for Clarinet and String Quartet Op.47 / Clarinet and String Orchestra Op.47A (2015)

Vocal

• 3 poems after Alexandre Pushkin Op.34 for soprano and Chamber Orchestra (2012)

Music for Children

• Variations on Children’s Theme Op.23 for Strings and Harp (2010)
• The Sorcerer’s Hat Op.24 music tale, based on story by Tove Jansson (2010)
• Chamber Suite from “The Sorcerer’s Hat” Op.24 A (2010)
• “Shuburchunchiki ” Op.19 (2010)

Violin solo

• Klezmer Cadenzas for Beethoven Violin Concerto Op.33 (2012)

Piano solo

• 6 Preludes for Piano Op.44 (2015)

Klezmer

• Jew in Rio for klezmer band Op.2 (2000)
• Bolero for klezmer band Op.3 (2000)
• The song of the Dead Sea for klezmer band Op.4 (2006)
• Clarinet Doina For clarinet , klezmer band and with Symphony Orchestra Op.30 (2012)
• Gut Yontev For klezmer band and Symphony Orchestra Op.31 (2012)

movie

Music for movie Master of Silence Op.14 (2006) ^[42]

Personal life

Ichmouratov is married to violist and violinist Elvira Misbakhova, and they have two daughters.

See also

• Documentary Film "Ascent" about Airat Ichmouratov on TV chanel Russia-1 Tatarstan ^[43]
• Interview with Airat Ichmouratov on Airelibre.tv ^[44]

References

External links

• Official website
• the Nouvelle Génération Chamber Orchestra
• Kleztory klezmer group
• Canadian Music Centre