March 17 2018 (Saturday) at 16:00 in MAUK TsKIIOI "Dialogue" Festival starts classical music them. S.V. Rachmaninov. The resumed festival will open with a solo concert by a young but very talented singer, laureate of international competitions, soloist of the Saratov Opera and Ballet Theater KSENIYA NESTERENKO(soprano).

KSENIA NESTERENKO gained all-Russian fame a year ago after a brilliant victory in the project "GRAND OPERA" on the TV channel "Culture". The Grand Prix in the fourth season of the “Bolshoi Opera” turned out to be a kind of double record for the singer, because she became the youngest participant in the history of the project - she was only 19 years old. In addition to her magnificent lyric soprano, evoking the legendary Galina Kovaleva (who, by the way, studied at the same Saratov Conservatory as Ksenia) and remarkable technique, the singer has extraordinary artistry and a subtle musical taste.


Ksenia is a 1st degree winner (Gold Prize) of the 2nd Manhattan International Music Competition (New York), she trained at the Académie lyrique de l’Opéra de Monte-Carlo (Monaco).
The young singer performs at various concert venues countries with leading conductors and orchestras, including the "Moscow Virtuosi" and the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia conducted by V. Spivakov, the orchestra " New Russia"conducted by D. Vlasenko, Chamber Orchestra of St. Petersburg state theater"Music Hall" under the direction of F. Mastrangelo and others.


At the Saratov Opera and Ballet Theater, Ksenia performed the roles of Donna Anna (Don Juan by W.A. Mozart), Arsena (The Gypsy Baron by J. Strauss), Prilepa (The Queen of Spades by P.I. Tchaikovsky), Caroline (" Secret Marriage" by D. Cimarosa), Antonida ("A Life for the Tsar" by M.I. Glinka), Violetta ("La Traviata" by G. Verdi).
THE ARRIVAL OF THE SINGER IS A BIG EVENT FOR OUR CITY, SO WE ADVICE YOU TO STOCK UP WITH TICKETS NOW!
The concert program includes vocal works by M.I. Glinka, N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, S.V. Rachmaninov, I.O. Dunaevsky, C. Gounod, G. Verdi, G. Puccini.

 I learned about Ksenia Nesterenko from my mother. Mom watches “culture,” including the “Big Opera” television competition. I come to her and she tells me: after she sang an aria from Rigoletto, a contestant at the “Bolshoi Opera” was asked “What is happening in the opera at this moment,” but the girl cannot answer anything. What then is music literature for?!
And during an interview for “World Club” it turned out that Ksenia is not yet studying at the conservatory. She is a student at the conservatory college, where she is studying to become a folk choir conductor. And the fact that she won the “Big Opera” is great!


- How has your life changed after winning the “Big Opera” television project?
- When I came to Saratov before, I took a break from the Opera, from the people who filmed me and interviewed me. But now it’s the other way around: it ended there, but it started here. Here everything is perceived as if I won Eurovision! People's attitudes have changed. Some people, who seem to have nothing to do with this at all, are very offended by “why not us, why her?!”

- By the way, how did your participation in the television project begin?
- It started without my participation. My teacher Arkady Vladimirovich Filippov even sent the application for me. When I found out, I was taken aback, but I thought that I still wouldn’t pass. And two weeks later they called me from the Kultura TV channel and said that I had passed the preliminary audition and should come to the casting. The teacher said: “okay, go and hang out.” Seventy people gathered there, chosen from one and a half thousand. And from them 12 participants were selected.

- What can and cannot be done as a professional vocalist?
- Everything is possible and nothing is impossible. For example, I don’t drink alcohol at all, but some, on the contrary, “50 grams - and go on stage!” Ideally, you need to maintain a vocal regime, two days before a serious performance - not only not to sing, but also to remain silent altogether. How to communicate? Write SMS or carry a notebook with you. Do not be nervous…

- Do you manage to not be nervous?
- On latest programs At the Bolshoi Opera, my nerves were already fraying. Behind the scenes of the 11th issue, I was so driven that I couldn’t think about anything else. I came out, embarrassed myself, sang wrong, didn’t answer the question, and I still can’t forget.

- In those moments when you are not a singer, you?..
- “Chorus” conductor, C student. I am also a loving daughter, loving wife... for a week already, it seems! This is already oh-ho-ho! I've wanted to get married for a long time.
I want a big family, many children. At the same time, I see myself in the opera industry. And this should be organically intertwined with the family. I’ve been telling my mother about this since I was ten years old.

- Are you aware that the Internet is discussing the connection between your victory and your relationship with the Bolshoi Theater soloist Evgeny Evgenievich Nesterenko?
- My dad told us since childhood that the outstanding bass Evgeniy Evgenievich is our relative. Then, when we became older and I went into the musical environment, I found out that he was my great-uncle. In our family we honor and respect him, but there was no further discussion on this topic. In general, at the conservatory we have a saying that according to Evgeniy Evgenievich you can study vocal art. Because he sings everything so correctly that his videos can be used as a teaching aid. I have never seen a singer with a more correct voice production, with a more pronounced technique. In general, there are family ties, but I don’t impose my kinship.

- Do you know how to win people over?
- It does not always work. I am a very peace-loving person, I hate scandals. But if people don’t immediately win you over, then I don’t love you forever. Here I’m all like my mother, like a locomotive - once I start, you can’t stop it.

- What is the role of family in the life of Ksenia the artist?
If it weren't for my family, I wouldn't even get into music. I have an older sister - a person who encouraged me by her example. I went first to ballet, then to piano, because I wanted to be like Lisa. And my mom and dad constantly supported me. Therefore, at the music school I received four musical educations: ballet, piano, academic vocals and solo and choral folk singing.

- Have you been in music all your life? Didn’t even have time to misbehave in the yard?
- I made it, how! In between classes at music school. It was an ordinary post-Soviet childhood, I managed to play hide and seek, “war games”, and “Cossacks-robbers”.

- What would you like to radically change?
- I would like to bring more justice to all areas. Because now there are a lot of custom-made things that simply should not exist in some areas. And this is very disturbing, does not give way to the young and strong people who could and would like to achieve a lot.

Fame came to Ksenia Nesterenko after winning the TV project “Big Opera” in 2016. Being the youngest participant in the competition (at the time of the competition, Ksenia was only 19 years old), she became a laureate and Grand Prix winner, winning the audience vote.

In 2017, Ksenia Nesterenko received 1st prize at the Manhattan International Music Competition in New York and in the same year completed an internship at the Academy of Lyric Opera of Monte Carlo (Monaco).

She is currently a first-year student at the Saratov State Conservatory named after L.V. Sobinov, and is also a soloist of the Saratov State Conservatory academic theater opera and ballet. In the theater, she performed roles in the operas “Don Giovanni” by Mozart (Donna Anna), “The Secret Marriage” by Cimarosa (Carolina), “A Life for the Tsar” by Glinka (Antonida), “La Traviata” by Verdi (Violetta), “The Queen of Spades” by Tchaikovsky ( Prilep), in the operetta “The Gypsy Baron” by Strauss (Arsen). The singer's concert repertoire includes works by Bellini, Verdi, Puccini, Gounod, Delibes, Massenet, Donizetti, Mozart, Strauss, Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Dunaevsky, Khrennikov and other composers.

Ksenia Nesterenko is active in concert activities. Her performances took place with famous orchestras of our country: the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, the State Symphony Orchestra "New Russia", the Symphony Orchestra of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the state chamber orchestra "Moscow Virtuosi" and the orchestra of the St. Petersburg State Music Hall Theater. The singer collaborated with Vladimir Spivakov, Denis Vlasenko, Felix Aranovsky, Fabio Mastrangelo and other conductors.

Tigran Ohanyan

Tigran Ohanyan became one of the winners of the “Big Opera” television project in 2016; by that time he already had experience of stage performances and participation in competitions. Tigran is the winner of a special prize at the Delphic Games in Yerevan (2010), bronze medalist at the Delphic Games in Astana (2012). He was awarded a special prize at the Competition of Young Opera Singers in St. Petersburg (2013) and the title “The Most Promising Young Tenor” at the International Competition of Opera Singers named after J. Vitols in Riga (2015). In 2016, he received a special prize at the International Galina Vishnevskaya Competition in Moscow, won the Grand Prix at the International Christmas Vocal Competition in Minsk, and was also awarded the Prize of the President of Armenia. At the “Big Opera” competition, in addition to the title of laureate, Tigran Ohanyan was also awarded a special jury prize.

Tigran was born in 1994 in Yerevan. In 2016 he graduated with honors from the Yerevan State Conservatory named after Komitas (class of Rafael Hakopyants). He took part in the Young Artists program of the Houston Grand Opera (2014), participated in the master class of Montserrat Caballe (Yerevan, 2014). Currently, Tigran is an artist in the youth program of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after A. Spendiarov (Yerevan).

In 2015, he performed the role of Stepanos Shaumyan in A. Tigranyan’s opera “David Beck” at the B. Britten Theater of the Royal College of Music in London. In 2016, he made his debut with his first major role on the stage of the Yerevan Philharmonic, singing Rudolf in Puccini’s “La Bohème” with the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia under the direction of Eduard Topchyan. This was followed by the role of the Young Gypsy in Rachmaninov’s “Aleko” on the stage of the Yerevan opera house, performance of Dvorak’s “Requiem” at a concert in memory of the Armenian genocide, participation in a gala concert on the occasion of the arrival of Pope Francis in Yerevan. In 2017, Tigran Ohanyan performed in Bolshoi Theater Belarus (the role of the Duke in Verdi's Rigoletto), the State Capella of St. Petersburg (the tenor role in the Requiems of Mozart and Verdi), opened the concert season at the G. Verdi Theater in Trieste, singing Lensky in Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin (conductor Fabrizio Maria Carminati).

National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia

National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia was established in January 2003 by the Russian Ministry of Culture on behalf of the President Russian Federation V.V. Putin. The NPR unites the best representatives of the orchestral elite and talented young musicians. Over the years of active creative life The NPR has managed to become one of the leading symphony orchestras in Russia, winning the love of the public and the recognition of professionals in its country and abroad.

The orchestra is led by the world famous violinist and conductor Vladimir Spivakov. Outstanding conductors of different generations collaborate with the orchestra, including Michel Plasson, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Krzysztof Penderecki, James Conlon, Okko Kamu, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Alexander Lazarev, John Nelson, Ian Latham-Koenig, Alexander Vedernikov, Tugan Sokhiev, Ken- David Mazur, Simon Gaudenz, Stanislav Kochanovsky, Alexander Soloviev and others.

Stars of the world opera stage and renowned instrumental soloists took part in the NPR concerts: Jesse Norman, Placido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Juan Diego Flores, Rene Fleming, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Marcelo Alvarez, Matthias Goerne, Ildar Abdrazakov, Violeta Urmana, Ramon Vargas, Evgeny Kissin, Vadim Repin, Gil Shaham, Arkady Volodos, Martha Argerich, Renault and Gautier Capuçon, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Victoria Mullova and many others. Anna Netrebko, Khibla Gerzmava, Albina Shagimuratova, Vasily Ladyuk, Dmitry Korchak, Denis Matsuev, Alexander Gindin, John Lill, David Garrett, Alexander Gavrilyuk, Vadim Gluzman, Sergei Dogadin, Nikolai Tokarev, Alexander Romanovsky, Alexander Ramm regularly perform with the NPR.

The orchestra's repertoire spans the period from early classical symphonies to the newest works of our time. Over 16 seasons, the orchestra has presented many extraordinary programs, unique subscriptions and concert series, and performed a number of Russian and world premieres. Confirming its status and name, the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia gives concerts and holds festivals not only in Moscow, but also in various regions of the country, laying routes to its most remote corners. Every year the NPR takes part in the Vladimir Spivakov International Music Festival in Colmar (France). The orchestra regularly tours in the USA, Western Europe, Japan, China, the CIS and Baltic countries.

In May 2005 the company Capriccio released a CD and DVD with a recording of the concert for the orchestra “Yellow Stars” by Isaac Schwartz, performed by the NPR under the direction of Vladimir Spivakov, to whom the composer dedicated this work. In 2010–2015 NPR recorded several albums for the company Sony Music with works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Grieg and others. In 2014–2018. a number of recordings of Russian music have been released under the label SpivakovSound, including the opera “Eugene Onegin” by Tchaikovsky (in the main roles – Khibla Gerzmava, Dmitry Korchak, Vasily Ladyuk).

A special area of ​​activity of the NPR is supporting talented young musicians, creating conditions for their creative realization and professional growth. In the 2004/05 season, on the initiative of the director of the NPR Georgy Ageev, a group of trainee conductors, which has no analogues in the orchestral world, was created in the orchestra. Many members of the group have achieved great success in their professional fields, taken leadership positions in leading creative teams and won prestigious awards. In the 2017/18 season, the new conducting and trainee group was headed by Alexander Solovyov and Georgy Ageev.

In 2007, the NPR became the owner of a grant from the Government of the Russian Federation. Since 2010, the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia has received a grant from the President of the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Spivakov

Outstanding violinist and conductor Vladimir Spivakov vividly realized his multifaceted talent in musical art and many areas public life. As a violinist, Vladimir Spivakov went through an excellent school with the famous teacher, professor of the Moscow Conservatory Yuri Yankelevich. The outstanding violinist of the 20th century, David Oistrakh, had no less influence on him.

In the 1960–1970s, Vladimir Spivakov became a laureate of the prestigious international competitions named after Marguerite Long and Jacques Thibault in Paris, named after Niccolo Paganini in Genoa, named after P. I. Tchaikovsky in Moscow and competition in Montreal. In 1975, after triumphant solo performances in the United States, a brilliant international career as a musician began. He performed as a soloist with the best symphony orchestras world under the baton of outstanding conductors of the 20th century - Evgeny Svetlanov, Kirill Kondrashin, Yuri Temirkanov, Mstislav Rostropovich, Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, Lorin Maazel, Carlo Maria Giulini, Kurt Masur, Riccardo Chailly, Claudio Abbado, etc. Since 1997, Spivakov has been playing on the violin by Antonio Stradivari, which was given to him for lifelong use by patrons of the arts - admirers of his talent.

In 1979, with a group of like-minded musicians, Vladimir Spivakov created the Moscow Virtuosi chamber orchestra, becoming its artistic director, conductor and soloist. He studied conducting with Professor Israel Guzman in Russia, and took lessons with Leonard Bernstein and Lorin Maazel in the USA. Bernstein, as a sign of friendship and faith in the future of the musician, gave him his baton, with which Spivakov performs to this day.

In 1989, Vladimir Spivakov headed the International Music Festival in Colmar (France). Since 2001, the “Vladimir Spivakov Invites” festival has been held in Moscow every two years with the participation of luminaries of the world performing arts and rising stars (since 2010, the festival has also been held in the regions of Russia). The musician has repeatedly taken part in the jury of famous international competitions (in Paris, Genoa, London, Montreal, Monte Carlo, Pamplona, ​​Moscow), and in 2016 he organized the International Violin Competition in Ufa.

For many years, Vladimir Spivakov has been involved in social and charitable activities. In 1994, the Vladimir Spivakov International Charitable Foundation was created, whose activities were awarded the Russian Government Prize in the field of culture in 2010. Contemporary composers have repeatedly dedicated their works to the musician, including Alfred Schnittke, Rodion Shchedrin, Arvo Pärt, Isaac Schwartz, Vyacheslav Artyomov.

In 2003, Vladimir Spivakov became artistic director and chief conductor of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, which he created, and president of the Moscow International House of Music. In 2011, he became a member of the Council for Culture and Art under the President of the Russian Federation. The musician’s extensive discography includes more than 50 CDs; most records were released by companies BMG Classics, RCA Red Seal And Capriccio. Many recordings have received prestigious awards, including Diapason D'Or And ChocdelaMusic. Since 2014, the maestro has been releasing recordings with the NPR under his own label SpivakovSound.

Vladimir Spivakov - People's Artist of the USSR, Russia, Armenia, Ukraine, the Republic of Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, and the Republic of Bashkortostan. Honored State Prize USSR, Order of Friendship, Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III, II and IV degrees, highest orders of Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Armenia, Italy, France (including the Order of the Legion of Honor), as well as many other honorary awards and titles. In 2006, Vladimir Spivakov for “outstanding contribution to world art, activities for peace and the development of dialogue between cultures” was recognized as a UNESCO Artist for Peace, and in 2009 he was awarded the UNESCO Mozart Gold Medal.

In 2012, Vladimir Spivakov was awarded the State Prize of Russia “for outstanding achievements in the field of humanitarian work” (the prizes were awarded to different years His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Valentina Tereshkova, King of Spain Juan Carlos I and French President Jacques Chirac).

On New Year's Eve, Ksenia Nesterenko from Saratov became the winner international competition“Big Opera”, conducted by the federal TV channel “Culture”. The personality of the laureate aroused great interest among users social networks from Russia and other countries who arranged a real interview for Ksenia. We publish the most interesting questions and answers, preserving the author's spelling and punctuation.

How old are you and where did you study? And from whom?

I am 19 years old. I am a fourth-year student at the Saratov State Conservatory named after L.V. Sobinov at the faculty of secondary vocational education conductor and choir department. My vocal teacher is Arkady Vladimirovich Filippov, my conducting teacher is Aneta Viktorovna Nikolaeva.

It would be interesting to hear about the time when your talent began to emerge.

My mother was the first to realize that I would be a singer, as soon as I was born and cried (laughs). And I myself thought about this, probably when I was 5 years old, when the time came to decide which school to go to and what to do outside of school. At first I was sent to choreography, but then music happened, with which we have been inseparable since then. While still a schoolgirl, I took part in the Lydia Ruslanova Competition in my native Saratov, competing with very strong vocalists. Perhaps it was at that moment that I realized that there was something in me.

I have a question about piano on high notes. Is it naturally so beautiful or is it all created?

My piano is entirely the merit of my teacher and the result of our many years of work. At first, nothing worked for me at all; something began to appear only a few months ago. Therefore, there is no secret or gift of nature here - only work, work and more work.

How many hours a day do you practice vocals? And in what mode do you generally live?

I work out in different ways, I can do nothing at all, or I can sing for 3 hours straight. My mode is to get up and run, I don’t sit still. In general, I'm terribly lazy.

Ksenia, what do you strive for in life? What is the goal in creativity? What stimulates creativity? At what point do you experience the greatest happiness? Besides vocals, what gives you joy in life?

In life I strive for a large family, and in creativity - for a successful career. A successful career for me is, firstly, recognition of myself as a worthy vocalist and theater actress, and secondly, recognition of the public, of course. I want the audience to listen to me and hear what I'm trying to convey to them. This is probably the most important goal and dream when it comes to creativity and profession.

When I fail at something, I ask myself: do you want to throw all these years of study into the trash? This is where the second wind kicks in, a stimulus appears. After all, I’ve been singing for so many years, studying music, and I won’t just give up on it!

Everything that happens in my life gives me joy. Even the negative points. They make it possible to understand that I am a living person. If I find myself in contrasting situations, then that’s also good, it means that I’m not living in vain. I am a public person, I am starting to get used to it, to be grateful to the Almighty.

I really enjoyed your performance! You are a gentle beauty with an amazing voice and charisma! Do you play sports, how do you spend your free time? What types of art do you like? Do you attend art exhibitions?

My relationship with sports resembles a drawing of a cardiogram. At some point, I light up, the desire appears to go to the fitness club, do exercises, and then I suddenly burn out, and I no longer need anything - again my favorite sofa, blanket and cats. I have very little free time, but when I have a minute, I can afford to go for walks. I love ballet and rhythmic gymnastics, I love watching figure skating. I love painting, I visit exhibitions, but rarely. In Moscow I really want to go to the Tretyakov Gallery.

Ksenia, have you ever had any doubts about what you chose? Right way, thoughts of trying yourself in another profession? (If so, what did you want to do?) How much competition is there on the project and in the opera profession in general?

Yes, such thoughts come to me. When something doesn’t work out again, I think: did I go there? But these thoughts quickly disappear, and everything returns to normal. In the 9th grade, I wanted to go to study as a philologist, because I love the Russian language and literature. And also, this may seem strange, I would like to try myself as a surgeon.

We are all strong and talented on the project. I don't think that we are rivals, we are allies. Therefore, there are no competitors here and cannot be. We communicate very well. In general, in my life I don’t search for competitors. I'm not interested. I am engaged in self-development, and competition is something at the level of natural selection.

Which opera heroine is close to you in spirit? What is your dream party? Which vocal parts do you like to perform more: which ones are close? inner world or vice versa, in contrast, which are completely unusual? Which of the performed parts is the most unusual and requires the most emotional transformation?

Of course, I like games that are close to my inner world. For example, in the opera “Ruslan and Lyudmila” I really love the role of Lyudmila. She is so lively and playful, especially when performed by Anna Netrebko. I enjoy performing Antonida from A Life for the Tsar. In general, I love Glinka. I also like Violetta Valerie from La Traviata. A beautiful character and despite her ancient profession, she is very noble. Her part is amazing!

I don’t like the part of Lauretta (“Gianni Schicchi”), I don’t feel at all comfortable in it. I can’t understand Mimi from La Bohème and don’t see myself in this role. Although these two parts suit me very well in terms of voice, and the teacher is trying to convince me that this is mine.

The dream part, which does not suit my natural voice at all, is Vanya from “Ivan Susanin”, and also the Countess from “ Queen of Spades" I absolutely love these images, I want to try them on, but it’s not my destiny.

What helps you deal with anxiety before going on stage?

I don't have a recipe. I'm always nervous and have a lot of stage fright.

Do you believe in superstitions and omens?

I never look in a broken mirror. If a black cat crosses the road, I go back. If I spill salt, I cover it with sugar, collect it with a wet cloth and wash it off under water. And if I forget something and return home, I make sure to look in the mirror. It turns out that I am a superstitious person (laughs). I also have my own sign. When I miss classes, I always meet all my teachers that day.

Based on personal experience, tell me how to instill in a child a love of opera without harming the psyche of the child himself, his parents and neighbors in the auditorium.

I think opera is not a children's art. In order to understand it correctly and begin to treat it positively or negatively, you need to grow up. I myself didn’t come to opera right away. My first experience - “Sadko” - was unsuccessful: I didn’t like the opera at all. Then I began to attend other productions, began to get to the bottom of things, to understand what and how they sing. From the age of 10 I listened to Anna Netrebko and Galina Kovaleva and imitated them. I think a child should be gradually accustomed to good music, introduced to different performers, and be sure to instill in him good taste.