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By Olga Fyodorova
There is a small crowd of people thronging a Moscow billboard and
eagerly studying the upcoming repertoire of the city’s main concert venues.
“Look, it says that “Musica Viva” are giving a series of concerts.
Does anybody know them?”
“I guess you’re not a Muscovite, because if you were, you
would know that “Musica Viva” is one of the best chamber orchestras in
Moscow. Conducted by Alexander Rudin...”
“Rudin? I thought he was a cellist, not a conductor…”
“Yes, Rudin is a brilliant cellist. But he is also a well-known pianist
and a outstanding conductor too. Each his concert is a celebration! When
you see his name on the billboard, don’t think twice, go buy a ticket and
enjoy! If you’re lucky enough to get one, of course…”
Alexander Rudin was a real prodigy, his phenomenal ear for music, excellent
memory and amazing musical feeling emerging very early. Small wonder that
he easily sailed through entrance exams to Moscow’s prestigious Gnessins
school of music for musically endowed children. But even there, Alexander
stood out with his talent that was absolutely out of this world.
At the still tender age of 12 Alexander Rudin emerged victorious from an
international junior competition in Prague and three years later won gold
at the Johann Sebastian Bach contest in Leipzig being the youngest of the
competing lineup of adult musicians.
Already a student, Alexander kept up the good job of shining at major international
competitions, becoming a winner of the Gaspar Cassado contest in Florence
and twice of the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.
A cello and piano major at the Gnessins College, Alexander then took up
opera and symphony conducting at the Moscow Conservatory playing the graduation
exam with his own chamber orchestra “Musica Viva”.
By then “Musica Viva” had already been around for a whole decade and it
was their choice to hire a new conductor. Alexander Rudin had once
been a lead player there, then tried his hand at conducting which was so
good that after the death of their chief conductor, the musicians
asked him to take over. Alexander agreed and has never regretted his decision…
Establishing a friendly rapport with the members of the band, which flew
in the face of the traditional relationship between conductor and orchestra,
Alexander created an amazing atmosphere of productive and mutually rewarding
collaboration.
Always on the lookout for unknown and half-forgotten music, Alexander Rudin
revived Mozart’s rarely staged comic opera “Der Schauspieldirektor”. This
was followed by “Orpheus”, a little known opera by the 18th century Russian
composer Yevstignei Fomin, who Alexander said was one of the few composers
who dared to bring the ancient legend to its tragic finale...
In 1993 Alexander Rudin organized his first Musical Gatherings festival,
which has since been held in Moscow every summer bringing together musicians
from around the world. Here, like always, Maestro Rudin never missed
a chance to play a couple of rarely performed pieces. Like, for example,
a concert for a pan flute and orchestra by the 18th century composer Johann
Quantz.
Always bubbling with new ideas, Alexander Rudin is a real trailblazer being
the first in Russia to offer the original, English-language version of
Handel’s magnificent Judas Maccabaeus oratorio…
…Following it up almost immediately with an absolutely stunning festival
billed as “Russia-Europe: A Century On”. Featuring music written in various
countries between 1901 and 1917, it offered an eye-opening glimpse at the
differing styles of early 20th century Russian and European music.
As one of Moscow’s most authoritative critics put it, “Alexander Rudin
and his “Musica Viva” orchestra are diligently filling up the white spots
of the chamber music repertoire…” Indeed, each of their performances is
a celebration, the stylistic perfection, coupled with all-stops-out drive
and red-hot emotion ranking them with the best such orchestras around…
Outwardly reserved and imperturbable, Alexander Rudin avoids the theatrics
expertly steering the orchestra always true to the “less is more” principle
underscoring the right instruments all resulting is a an exquisitely-sounding
ensemble playing with clockwork precision…
Alexander’s working schedule is as busy as it can be. He works hard rehearsing
solo programs, conducting various lineup chamber orchestras, performing
with his “Musica Viva” outfit and recording in the studio.
Add to this teaching at the Moscow conservatory and conducting and playing
with the London and Vienna Symphony orchestras, the Bavarian Opera, the
Danish Radio orchestra, the Russian National and Tchaikovsky Symphony orchestras…
And don’t forget the festivals which, besides his own one, now also include
a junior festival organized by his 22-year-old son Ivan. Even though
Alexander stays away from that festival, he gives all the organizational
help they need his very name and clout adding tremendously to the new event’s
prestige.
Always natural and true to himself, Alexander Rudin never raises his voice,
never forces his opinion on others, and is never in a hurry. And is always
on time...
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