EFREM PODGAITS (1949)
Composer Efrem Podgaits has composed more than 240 works in different genres (13 operas, 3 musicals, a ballet, and a number of pieces for symphony and chamber orchestra, choir and solo singers as well as music for cinema and theatre). His compositions are widely performed and have been recorded in Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Hungary, Japan, Switzerland, Croatia and USA. He places equal importance on his music for children and is considered to be one of the most versatile and outstanding contemporary Russian composers. In 2002 the Russian monthly Musical Review named him Composer of the Year.
His music has been performed by world renowned artists including Mstislav Rostropovich, Yuri Bashmet, Lubov Kazarnovskaya, Friedrich Lips, Alexsnder Gindin, Roman Kofman, Valery Polyansky, Vassily Sinaisky, Vladimir Ponkin, Saulus Sondetskis, and many others. He has had a continuing involvement with the Moscow-based Vesna Children’s Choir, directed by Alexander Ponomarev, and their wonderful performances of his work have brought Podgaits well-deserved recognition both in Russia and abroad.
Efrem Podgaits is a professor at the Ippolitov-Ivanov Moscow State Musical College, where he chairs the Department of Composition. Member of the Russian Union of Composers, member of the Boad of the Moscow Union of Composers, was awarded the title of Merited Propagator of the Arts of Russia.
The Russian monthly «The Musical Review» named E.Podgaits «?omposer of the Year 2002».
In 2008 Efrem Podgaits won the Bolshoi Theatre / Russian Theatre Union Competition for the best children’s opera or ballet; his winning composition, the ballet Moidodyr was be staged by the Bolshoi Theatre.
Key world premieres:
2012 — «Moidodyr» ballet
2012 — «Fantasy in B.Bartok memorian» for two pianos and percussions
2012 — «Amazing string tale» for chamber orchestra, soloists and reader
2011 — «Angel and psychotherapist» chamber opera
2011 — «Cras ignotum» for violin, chamber orchestra, piano and percussions
2011 — «The last musician» children's opera
2011 — Lacrimosa for chamber orchestra
2010 — «Solntsevorot» («Solstice») cantata for mixt choir and instrumental ensemble
2009 — «Kol nidre» for cello and chamber orchestra
2009 — Concerto for marimba and chamber orchestra
2009 — «Post festum» concerto for cello and orchestra
2009 — Concerto for viola and orchestra
2009 — «King David’s psalms» concerto for children choir and chamber orchestra
2009 — «Alliluia» for mixt choir and chamber orchestra
2009 — Opera «The Prince and the Pauper», staged in Moscow
2009 — Opera «Dwarf Long Nose», staged in Krasnodar
2008 — «Viva voce» — Concerto #2 for bayan and chamber orchestra
2008 — «Whims» Concerto-suite for balalayka and Russian folk orchestra
2008 — «The Prayer» for cello and children choir (in memoriam Mstislav Rostropovich)
2007 — Concerto #3 for piano and orchestra
2007 — Opera «Lord of the flies» (after W. Golding) staged in Moscow
2007 — Opera «The Prince and the Pauper», staged in St. Petersburg
2006 — «Ring» for violin and strings (fantasy on jewish theme)
2005 — Concerto for saxophone and orchestra
2005 — Symphony #2 (dedicated to M. Rostropovich) London, LSO, M. Rostropovich)
2004 — Concerto for balalaika and folk orchestra
2003 — «EX ANIMO» for bayan and string quartette
2003 — «POST FESTUM» for cellos orchestra, written under the request of M. Rostropovich (International festival, France)
2003 — «Strange dances» for bassoon and four hands piano
2002 — «New York mass» for mixt choir, organ and strings
2002 — «Lips-concerto» for bayan and orchestra
2002 — Concerto for guitar and chamber orchestra
2001 — Concerto for mandolina and chamber orchestra
2000 — «Formuls» — concerto for symphonic orchestra
1999 — «Post aere nostra» for string quartet
1998 — «Trip to the Orchestraland» fairy-tale for symphonic orchestra and reader
1997 — «Missa veris» for children‘s choir and organ (CD,«Opus 111», Paris, France)
1997 — «Sarafan for Michel» for clarinet and chamber orchestra
1997 — «Thumbolina», staged in Moscow, won the «grand-prix» in 2001 as the best children‘s performance
1996 — «Bakhchief-concerto» for 4 hands piano and chamber orchestra
1995 — «King David‘s psalms» concerto for mixt choir
1994 — «Concordanza» — Concerto #2 for violin and orchestra
1993 — Opera «Alice through the Looking-glass», staged in St. Petersburg
1992 — «Lambada-Concerto» for oboe and chamber orchestra
1991 — Triple concerto for violin, cello, piano and orchestra
1987 — «Concerto brevis» for percussion and chamber ensemble
1986 — Double concerto for two violins and chamber orchestra
1985 — Symphony #3«It will be the gentle rain» for soprano, organ, strings and percussions (Kiev, dedicated to R. Kofman)
1984 — Concerto #1 for violin and orchestra
1983 — Concerto for harpsichord and chamber orchestra
1981 — «How to draw a bird» cantata for soprano, children‘s choir and orchestra (J. Prevert)
1979 — Partita for violin, cello and harpsichord
Member of the Russian Union of Composers, member of the Boad of the Moscow Union of Composers, was awarded the title of Merited Propagator of the Arts of Russia.
The Russian monthly «The Musical Review» named E. Podgaits «Composer of the Year 2002».
E-mail: podgaits@mail.ru
Web: http://www.podgaits.info/
Information about concerts and performances here.
