The Interview with Haik Kazazyan for Classic Violin Olympus

We publish an interview with Hayk Kazazyan, which he gave to the press service of the Classic Violin Olympus (CVO) competition, in which Kazazyan won first place.

Hayk Kazazyan has long and fruitfully collaborated with the composer Baruch Berliner, brilliantly performing his violin concertos “Jacob’s Dream” and “The Binding of Isaac”.

Once again, we congratulate Hayk on such a brilliant result and victory!

As we continue to highlight the extraordinary finalists of the Classic Violin Olympus in Dubai, today’s feature is on Haik Kazazyan, a celebrated virtuoso and the winner of the Rome edition of the “Six Ways to Classic Violin Olympus.” Known for his exceptional talent and passion for the violin, Kazazyan has become a significant figure in the classical music world.

Haik Kazazyan’s musical accomplishments are nothing short of impressive. Throughout his career, he has performed with renowned orchestras such as the Orchestra of The Mariinsky Theater, Orchestre National de France, Scottish Royal National Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Dublin National Orchestra, and many others. He has worked with some of the most esteemed conductors and musicians of our time, including Valery Gergiev, Teodor Currentzis, Yuri Bashmet, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Alexander Liebreich, and many more.

Kazazyan’s versatility as both a soloist and chamber musician has earned him the opportunity to perform with legendary figures like pianists Denis Matsuev, Freddy Kempf, Eliso Virsaladze, and Alex Kobrin, as well as violinists Pavel Vernikov and Boris Brovtsyn. His collaborations have shaped his artistry and enriched his performances across the globe.

Kazazyan’s talent has led him to stage performances in some of the most iconic concert halls worldwide. These include Carnegie Hall in New York, the Berlin Philharmonic Hall, the Great, Small, and Rakhmaninov halls of the Moscow Conservatory, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Barbican Hall and Wigmore Hall in London, and many others. He has also participated in numerous prestigious music festivals, such as the Verbier Festival, “Crescendo” of Denis Matsuev, and the Tongyeong International Music Festival in South Korea.

In addition to his live performances, Kazazyan’s concerts have been broadcasted on major TV channels such as ‘Culture’ in Moscow, Mezzo, Brussels TV, and BBC Radio, further cementing his global recognition.

Kazazyan’s educational background has played a pivotal role in shaping his career. He began his studies at the Sayat-Nova Music School in Yerevan under the guidance of Professor Levon Zoryan. He continued his education at the Gnessin Music School in Moscow, studying with the esteemed Professor E.D. Grach and chamber music under Alexander Bonduriansky. Later, he studied at the Moscow Conservatory and further honed his skills at the Royal College of Music in London under the mentorship of Professor Itzhak Rashkovsky.

Kazazyan’s journey has been marked by an array of accolades. He won several prestigious competitions early in his career, including the Grand Prix at the ‘Amadeus-95’ competition, and went on to receive significant prizes at international violin competitions in Germany, Russia, Poland, Switzerland, and South Korea. His dedication and artistry earned him the 1st prize at the International Violin Competition in Sion-Valais, Switzerland, in 2004, as well as the 1st prize at the Isang Yun International Violin Competition in South Korea in 2007.

Kazazyan’s discography is also impressive. In 2010, he released a CD album titled Opera Fantasies on the Delos label, followed by a 2017 release of Grieg’s violin sonatas with pianist Philipp Kopachevsky. These recordings have been widely acclaimed and continue to showcase his profound musicality.

Alongside his formal training, Kazazyan has participated in various summer courses and festivals, including Keshet Eilon in Israel, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Verbier Festival. He has also benefited from masterclasses with some of the greatest violinists and pedagogues of our time, including Shlom Mintz, Ida Haendel, Pamela Frank, and Boris Kuschnir.

As a true ambassador for classical music, Haik Kazazyan continues to inspire both his peers and audiences worldwide with his extraordinary skill, dedication, and passion. His impressive list of achievements only adds to the anticipation of his upcoming performances and recordings, ensuring that his place in the world of classical music remains firmly established for years to come.

In this interview, we delve deeper into his remarkable journey and the incredible achievements he has amassed throughout his career.

CVO Press Office: Can you share some details about the preliminary contest? How was the experience for you, and what did you feel when you learnt that you had made it through to the final?

Haik Kazazyan: ⁠I hadn’t participated in any competitions for many years already and it was a bit of a challenge for me to do it again and to play in front of the jury. Anyway, I still managed to create nice music as I had planned to. After the performance I had a thought that I could have a chance to get to the final, but anyway I was extremely happy when I heard the results. It was a very good surprise!

CVO Press Office: Now that the Grand Finale is getting even closer, what are your expectations for this event?

Haik Kazazyan:⁠ I think that I just need to do my best! And not to think about anything else.

I expect to enjoy the fantastic music together with the orchestra, conductor, public and hopefully the jury. Because I can guess it’s going to be an outstanding jury panel. For me the best scenario would be if I could get positive feedback on my performance from the jury members.

CVO Press Office: Could you share your thoughts and impressions on the program you’re going to perform in the final round? Why did you choose these particular works?

Haik Kazazyan: I chose the Tchaikovsky concerto because I played it many times before. And every time this work inspires me. Plus this is one of the brilliant works of the violin repertoire, where the performer can show not only the technical part of his art, but also the musical part.

I chose Strauss Heldenleben, because it’s a very interesting work and probably the most famous Concertmaster solo.
My choice for Alexei Shor’s piece is b minor concerto. It made the best impression on me and I enjoy very beautiful and melodic themes in this work.

CVO Press Office: ⁠Is there anything special you do before the performance that you feel best prepares you or brings you good luck? Any rituals or habits you’ve picked up?

Haik Kazazyan: I should not be too tired or too relaxed. Just simply trying to keep the standard mood. And at the same time to warm up very well. It would be ideal if my thoughts could only be with the music that I’m going to perform. I prefer not to worry about technical and organisational details before the performance.

CVO Press Office:⁠ ⁠Finally, could you please share a few facts about yourself that you find interesting. Tell us about your hobby, your favourite composer or an interesting story from your past.

Haik Kazazyan: My hobbies are listening to music like a meloman, learning astronomy and exploring nature and the world that surrounds us. I’d like to share an interesting story about how I began to study music. When I was 1 year and 8 months old, during the walk on the street, I suddenly began to sing quite well for a very very young kid. It was one of the most popular songs of that time. So people around were amazed and commented: “What a Celentano”. My father was with me at the time and, being an attentive person, he understood I might have a musical ear. Since that time there has been music all the time at our house, and in a few years I took the violin in my hands!

Source: classicviolinolympus.com