Pianist fled Russia to protest the war in Ukraine. He’ll make his KC debut next week
Russian pianist Mikhail Voskresensky first visited the United States in 1962 to take part in the first Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Last year, at the age of 87, Voskresensky came to the United States ostensibly to perform at the Aspen Music Festival, but in reality to flee what he calls a “criminal country.”
The United States is now Voskresensky’s forever home.
Park University’s International Center for Music will present Voskresensky in his Kansas City area debut Sept. 22 at the 1900 Building.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 22, Voskresensky was faced with a moral dilemma.
“When the war began, I could not accept this because I’m an old man, and I was a young boy during the Second World War,” he said. “I remember the bombing, I remember the horror during the war. So for me and for my family, it was impossible to stay in a criminal country.”
Voskresensky, his wife and 5-year-old son surreptitiously left Russia on June 20, 2022.
“We began to think how to leave Russia, and my friend in the United States, Professor Veda Kaplinsky from Juilliard, helped me and organized an invitation to the Aspen Music Festival, which permitted me to leave Russia.”
Voskresensky had to leave nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren behind.
“We have contact, of course,” Voskresensky said. “I don’t think they are in danger. We will not speak about dangerous things. We will speak about love so it is a very peaceful conversation.”
Stanislav Ioudenitch, artistic director of the International Center for Music and himself a Van Cliburn competition gold medalist, also did what he could to help Voskresensky.
“Stanislav Ioudenitch is a wonderful musician, one of the best from the younger generation,” Voskresensky said. “I remember him very well when he was a youth. He was a pupil of Dmitri Bashkirov at the Moscow Conservatory. When I came to the United States, he helped me very much. I’m very happy he invited me to Kansas City. Maybe it’s not the last time. “
Long before the invasion of Ukraine, Voskresensky began having problems with his government. In fact, shortly after he won the bronze medal at the Van Cliburn competition, Voskresensky began to attract the attention of the Soviet government.
“I can say the Van Cliburn competition was the beginning of my career and concert activity,” Voskresensky said. “Immediately I began to have many proposals, etc. etc. It was a very good beginning, but it was interrupted when I refused to collaborate with the KGB. You know this organization?”
The Soviet Union’s main security agency realized it could exploit Voskresensky’s fame and American contacts by making him a secret agent. Voskresensky would have none of it.
“In 1963, they proposed for me to be with them, and I refused,” Voskresensky said. “I told them I am too emotional and I can make mistakes, so I must refuse. Immediately, at the age of 28, everything was finished.”
Voskresensky’s refusal to join the KGB. nipped his blossoming career in the bud. He was only allowed to play in Russia and Eastern Bloc countries. It was only in 1975 that he was allowed to leave the country.
“I don’t know who permitted me,” Voskresensky said. “I can only guess that it was the director of the Moscow Conservatory, who was very close to me. He was a very clever man. Maybe he gave some word that I am not dangerous.”
After a lifetime of living under government scrutiny, Voskresensky is now safely ensconced in the United States, living with wife and child in the Bronx in a small apartment.
“We have a small apartment, but I have a wonderful piano,” Voskresensky said. “When I came to the United States, I needed to play piano. I’m a professional pianist. I must play every day. Again, Ms. Kaplinsky helped me. She spoke with the president of the Steinway company, Gavin English, and he presented me a wonderful Steinway. It is a rental, but I don’t pay anything, so it is like a gift.”
Unfortunately, the first piano Steinway sent Voskresensky wouldn’t fit through the door of his apartment.
“Our apartment is very small, and when the piano arrived, they discovered that the steps to the second floor made it impossible to bring this instrument, so they left. It was a tragedy for me.”
Again, Kaplinsky went to Steinway, and explained the situation. English proposed a smaller piano.
“And it is a wonderful instrument,” Voskresensky said. “It’s a model M, Mignon. It is a very old one from the beginning of the last century, but it’s restored wonderfully. I’ve never had such a wonderful piano. So I play piano, and everything is very good.”
For his Kansas City recital, Voskresensky will perform a program of Russian rarities, including music by Tchaikovsky, Borodin, Glinka and Prokofiev.
“I thought a lot about the program, and I decided to play Russian music because Russian culture is wonderful culture, in spite of the war” Voskresensky said. “We cannot throw this culture away. The music has always helped us to live well because it is the most peaceful art in the world.”
Voskresensky will begin his recital with “The Seasons” by Tchaikovsky. It’s a cycle of 12 short pieces inspired by the months of the year.
“Twelve months filled with bright images,” Voskresensky said. “For example, in September you have the chase of the hunt, a song of autumn. Also very well-known is the November, ‘Troika,’ a three-horse sleigh that was very popular transport in the 19th century. I’m very happy to introduce to the public of Kansas City this wonderful piece, which is played very seldom in the United States. In Russia, everybody knows it. This is genius music.”
Following that, Voskresensky will play two selections from the Petite Suite by Borodin. One of the movements, “In the Monastery,” is filled with the sounds of bells and Russian Orthodox chant. Voskresensky will also play Balakirev’s piano transcription of “The Lark,” by a composer considered the father of Russian classical music, Mikhail Glinka. Then it’s another rare gem, “Fairytales of the Old Grandmother” composed in 1918 by Prokofiev.
“And I will finish my program with the fifth sonata by Scriabin” Voskresensky said. “Scriabin is a great Russian composer. He stands separately from all composers because he found new ways in the expression of music. He looked for the cosmic, he looked for another world. He dreamt to change the world by music. It is an impossible notion, but I support it.”
7:30 p.m. Sept. 22. 1900 Building, 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway. $10-$30. 816-584-6484 or icm.park.edu.
Friends of Chamber Music — Aizuri Quartet
The Aizuri Quartet will make its Kansas City debut Sept. 23 at the 1900 Building. Presented by the Friends of Chamber Music, the ensemble will perform music by Fanny Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn, Haydn and Bartók.
“The Aizuri is a great string quartet,” said Dmitri Atapine, co-artistic director of the Friends of Chamber Music. “They’re young and they just won the Cleveland Award, which is one of the most prestigious string quartet awards. They are very much dedicated to music of the past and the music of the present. “
Atapine says the quartet will be in town for five days, giving free recitals and taking part in educational activities at local high schools.
7 p.m. Sept. 23. 1900 Building. $44. 816-561-9999 or chambermusic.org.
You can reach Patrick Neas at patrickneas@kcartsbeat.com and follow his Facebook page, KC Arts Beat, at www.facebook.com/kcartsbeat.
