Interview-Erzhan-Kulibaev

•How did winning the George Enescu International Competition influence your career? What did it mean to you personally and professionally?

When you are a violinist, you have to be very precise. That’s why I must say, to be precise, I have won a third prize at the Enescu Competition, which I am very proud of and happy about. I have very nice memories of participating in this competition. I made a lot of friends. After the competition, I visited Romania many times and many cities. I even attended a Romanian wedding, which was a wow experience, with traditional music and cuisine. I learned some Romanian dances. Every time I visit Romania, I fall in love more and more with its culture, nature, people, and music. Additionally, I have the pleasure of teaching students from Romania, which has been an enriching experience for both me and my students. I was also honored to be invited as a member of the jury in some youth competition, which allowed me to give back to the musical community and inspire the next generation of musicians.

•You have performed in various countries and prestigious venues. •Which performance or venue stands out the most in your career and why?

Among all the venues where I’ve performed, notable ones include Carnegie Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Teatro Colón, Mariinsky Theater Concert Hall, Astana Opera, and many others. To be honest, the venue itself isn’t the most critical aspect for me. While the acoustics and historical significance are certainly undeniable, what truly matters is the opportunity to play for an audience and to feel the energy that resonates back, to feel that connection. Therefore, I relish playing music wherever there are appreciative listeners, whether it be at open-air concerts, in intimate or grand concert halls, or in solo, piano, or orchestral collaborations.

• What pieces do you enjoy performing the most? Do you have a favorite composer or a specific work that resonates with you deeply?

This is the most popular question I’ve been asked, yet the answer is always different. The most accurate and universal response would be that my favorite music is what I’m working on at the moment. Each time I start working on a new piece, even if I don’t like it initially, through the work and analysis, I get to know it better. Even if I don’t become a fan of this particular music, I at least understand it and develop a strong sympathy for it. Some of the great examples of violin repertoire, which I’ve played for many years, become more than just music. When I play them again, I can re-experience all the emotions I felt 10 or 15 years ago. They become akin to Proust’s madeleines. One example for me would be Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. I’ve performed it many times in different countries with various orchestras, and I remember all the conductors, concert halls, and emotions. It’s a kind of time machine for me. It also allows me to check how different I am as a person because each time I want to add something new, to play it differently. By comparing these differences, I can understand myself better. It is definitely an interesting introspective process.

I will be performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, one of the most famous pieces in the violin repertoire, known for its beautiful melodies. It typically lasts around 35 minutes, making it one of the longer concertos. Additionally, I will be performing a very short violin solo piece written by George Enescu. Furthermore, I am excited to present my own arrangement for violin solo of ‘Legend of the Dombra’ by the renowned Kazakh composer Nagim Mendygaliev, a piece celebrated for its evocative portrayal of Kazakh musical heritage.

I’m currently studying orchestra conducting. In September, I will be conducting the opera ‘Don Pasquale’ for ‘The Opera Atelier’ in Miami. This is a completely new adventure, a new world, and I am excited to start this new journey. I thank my dear teacher, Vladimir Kiradjiev, a professor at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, for supporting me in this new adventure.

I can give you two names: David Oistrakh and Jascha Heifetz. But, right after these names, come two more: Zakhar Bron and Pierre Amoyal. These two great teachers, who were also students of the first two great artists, have been my mentors. I’m very fortunate to have studied with them. Their high standards, creative imagination, and now a friendship that continues through some educational projects, constantly inspire me to explore new horizons.

You won’t believe me, and actually, I can hardly believe it myself when I recall the story. Once, on one of those beautiful mornings, I received a last-minute invitation to a festival in Norway. The flight was scheduled for the next beautiful morning. So, during that day, I had to learn new pieces: Ravel’s Piano Trio, Lyapunov’s Sextet, and a contemporary piece written by a Norwegian composer. I didn’t sleep that night; I was practicing with the mute. The next morning, I took a flight, and by the afternoon, rehearsal had already started. It was indeed a beautiful day, if you know what I mean. I hope such a situation will never happen again.

There is a Spanish saying, ‘every person is a world,’ which means that everyone is unique and special; it’s not easy to offer generic advice that suits everyone. There should certainly be an opportunity to meet young talents and see what dreams they have, their goals, and their current progress. In this case, it would be easier to find that one, the correct advice. That’s why I’m organizing my own festival in a small town near Madrid, ‘Semana del Violín con Erzhan Kulibaev.’ This is a one-of-a-kind international festival and masterclass that adapts to the personal goals and professional needs of young musicians. Right after the concert in Constanta, we will have the inaugural first edition. I’m looking forward to meeting young violinists from different countries. I’m sure it will be a very interesting week full of discoveries and, of course, there everyone will receive personally tailored advice.

I hope my growing fondness for nature is not merely because I’m getting older, but rather because I’m becoming more aware of its tremendous importance in our lives. Thus, I greatly enjoy all kinds of travels that involve walking through the countryside, forests, mountains, and along rivers. My understanding of how composers were inspired by nature deepened after visiting Grieg’s and Sibelius’s houses, and even more so when considering Tchaikovsky, who composed his violin concerto on the serene coast of Lake Geneva. This underscores the profound connection between nature and human creativity. Whenever I have some free time, I prefer to walk in parks and forests. Madrid and its surroundings offer a great and varied landscape for this purpose.