Vladimir Svoysky
Concert Pianist / Harpsichordist / Conductor
“In every field there are those who, by combining learning and effort with God-given talent, surmount the obstacles of life to reach such a high degree of excellence that they inspire others. Vladimir Svoysky is such a man.”
– St. Petersburg Times
Rare talent resides in pianist Svoysky
By Glenda Sanders
Daily SunThe Villages – Beyond technical excellence, beyond even passion and the driving will to produce music, there is a quality that cannot be bought, taught or achieved. That quality is talent – talent that not only enables a musician to produce music, but compels him to.
Such talent is rare, and rarer still is the coupling of that talent with an environment that nurtures it to full potential.
Villagers bore witness to such a talent Sunday evening at the Church on the Square when Vladimir Svoysky sat down at the piano to play Beethoven. Later he would move from the works of Beethoven, which he described as “classical and dramatic” to the “lyrical and romantic” compositions of his fellow countrymen Rachmaninoff.
Fate blessed countless audiences by putting a raw talent like Svoysky into the household of a professional violinist, his father. Had he been the son of a banker, he would doubtless have discovered music, but probably would not have the immersion in it that enabled him to become so much a part of the music that he is performing.
Svoysky began studying piano around 8 years old, but he was a conductor even earlier.
“My orchestra was my sisters,” he said. Their instruments were makeshift toys that produced sounds that fell below the expectations of this budding conductor, so he beat them with his makeshift baton. His sisters ran to their mother crying. She, in turn, demanded to know young Vladimir was mistreating them.
“Because they play the wrong music,” he told her.
He conducts symphonies and operas as well as playing piano in concert.
Numerous standing ovations and a pregnant pause between the end of an emotional rendering of the first movement of Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 2 and the applause bespoke the audience’s appreciation of his performance.
As villager Jean Hurbart put it, “Such talent – and it’s not even New York.”
Music critic Molly Bell of the Richmond News Leader wrote on Mr. Svoysky’s piano recital:
“Svoysky met the challenge of playing… (‘Etudes’ by Chopin) … The dizzying whirls of keys and making them coherent, colorful pictures of sound… The program ended with three Preludes of Rachmaninov from Op. 23… The dark mood and Russian flavor were at times magnificent, …and the demanding mixture of lyricism and technical prowess, especially at the end of such a strenuous program, proved Svoysky’s stamina as well as spirit.”
Molly Bell
Richmond News Leader
The office of Cultural Affairs continues to get compliments for your spectacular performance…The virtuosity and Russian flavor…were superb. (12/6/93)
…You have a passion for life and feeling that comes through so beautifully in your music…What a fantastic performance!… (9/29/94)
Christian C. Goodell
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
In an order established by lot, each finalist conducted the work of his choice. Opening this final stage of competition was Vladimir Svoysky, formerly musical director of the Krasnoyarsky Symphony in Russia, who selected the Shostakovich “Festive Overture” to conduct. From the first sounds of the opening brass fanfare, it was evident that Mr. Svoysky was in full command of the orchestra which responded crisply to his controlled, polished conducting style. After the broad opening, he set an exceptionally brisk tempo for the main part of the work which dazzled with its flashing scales, snappy accompaniment figures and brilliant burst of orchestral color.
…the announcement of the final decision of the judges…that the winner of the Janet Hoeschler Award was Vladimir Svoysky. (8/9/82)
A Review by David Kraehenbuehl
Great River Festival of Arts, Wisconsin
He is such a phenomenal pianist – It’s just a privilege to be on stage with him.
Oscar Felieu
Artistic Director of Savannah Performing Art Center
…Einstein said, “Paganni represented virtuosity, Chopin transcended it:” in yesterday’s concert, Svoysky interpreted the composer’s genius very skillfully… A critic once said of Chopin’s Etudes, “Those who have twisted fingers may cure them by practicing these Etudes, but those who have not should not play them, at least not unless they have a surgeon handy.” Vladimir Svoysky had neither twisted fingers nor a doctor at yesterday afternoon’s concert, but he had firm control of the Etudes in the concert that featured Beethoven, Schumann and Rachmaninov as well. (12/10/90)
Molly Bell
The Richmond News Leader
…superbly prepared technically and plays with engaging warmth and emotional directness.
The Baltimore Sun
“He has a barnstorming virtuoso technique in the familiar “take-no-prisoners” Soviet
tradition. He easily commands many of the attributes that distinguish his school of playing: the huge, colorful sonority that never becomes forced or brittle; the penchant for heart-on-sleeve lyrical expressiveness,”– New York Concert Review
“What a wonderful concert we were privileged to see and hear – thank you so much! Today’s music (so-called) is not inspired by God. Your talent is inspired by God. Don’t ever let that music go away.”
concertgoer
“Thank you, thank you! I’m glad I lived long enough to hear you play!”
concertgoer
“He is a musician of genius.” David Finko, composer