Volodymyr Markovych Kozhukhar (Ukrainian: Володимир Маркович Кожухар; 16 March 1941 – 3 December 2022) was a Soviet and Ukrainian conductor and academic teacher who focused on opera. Most notably, he conducted and taught in Kyiv and Moscow, among other places.
Kozhukhar was born in Vinnytsia. According to a 2011 interview, Kozhukhar was drawn to conducting at the age of 18, when he was enrolled at the Kyiv Conservatory as an instrumentalist who also composed music as a hobby. He also spent much time studying orchestral scores, which caught the attention of fellow students and, later, school administrative staff. Despite being invited to study conducting, Kozhukhar initially declined the offer. His teachers persuaded him to reconsider, telling him that "a single orchestral instrument [was] not enough" for him.[1]
Kozhukhar began conducting professionally in 1964.[4] He became conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Ukrainian SSR (later State Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine),[3] and in 1967 their chief conductor.[4]
Opera and ballet
Kozhukhar conducted at the Kyiv Opera and Ballet Theatre from 1973 to 1977.[3] From 1977 to 1988, he was chief conductor of the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre in Moscow.[3][2] In 1989, he became chief conductor of the National Opera of Ukraine in Kyiv, where he led classical repertoire, and also works by Ukrainian composers including Lysenko's Taras Bulba, Lyatoshynsky's The Golden Hoop, and Yevhen Stankovych's 2001 ballet Vikings.[4] He conducted Rodion Shchedrin's Carmen Suite, written in 1967 for Shchedrin's wife, the ballerina Maya Plisetskaya, and scored for string orchestra with percussion; the choreography was by Alberto Alonso. A reviewer noted that he conducted with all qualities necessary for the "charged, erotic, dramatic score".[5] In 2019, Kozhukhar programed the work with Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade,[5] wherein the choreography by Michel Fokine was revived.[5] Kozhukhar took part in a gala concert, Masterpieces of World Music. The company toured Europe, Canada, Lebanon, and Japan. Performances that he led on tours included Tchaikovsky's Mazeppa in Paris in 1992, Verdi's Nabucco at the Strasbourg Music Festival of 1993, and Shostakovich's Katerina Izmailova in Naples.[4] He held the post until 2011.[3]
Teaching
Kozhukhar taught opera and orchestral conducting at the Kyiv Conservatory from 1965 to 1977, orchestral conducting at the Gnesin Music and Pedagogy Institute in Moscow from 1978 to 1988, and was a professor at the Kyiv Conservatory from 1993.[3]
Personal life
Kozhukhar had acquired the nickname "The Tracker" from violinist Oleh Krysa because, according to him, a soloist could not get away from him." Later he was also known as "The Computer", a nickname which Kozhukhar said he enjoyed:
Keeping in mind that a conductor has got to think faster than everyone else sitting before him, I am not offended [by the name]. Fooling me is impossible. I hear everything. I tell performers that the only times I make no comments [during rehearsal] are: if they are brilliant or if they are hopeless.[1]
Kozhukhar recorded works by Ukrainian composers such as Borys Lyatoshynsky, Andriy Shtoharenko, Lev Kolodub, Vitaliy Hubarenko, and Myroslav Skoryk.[3] In 1970, he recorded Heorhiy Maiboroda’s Symphony No. 2 (1952, revised 1966) with the Ukrainian SSR State Symphony Orchestra.[6]: 37 He recorded two symphonies by Levko Revutsky: the Symphony No. 1 in A major, Op. 3 (1916–21, rev. 1957), combined with the Maiboroday symphony in 1970, and the Symphony No. 2 in E major, Op. 12 (1926-7, rev. 1940 and 1970) in 1973.[6]: 69 He recorded Serdar Mukhatov's Symphony No. 2 in 1981.[6]: 53
^ ab. Политические Известия в Украине (in Russian). 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
^ abcBentya, Yuliya (24 January 2008). "Музыкальный тяжеловес". ClassicalMusicNews.Ru (in Russian). from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
^ abcdefБогданьок, Олена (4 December 2022). "Помер диригент Володимир Кожухар" [Conductor Vladimir Kozhukhar died] (in Ukrainian). Suspilne Media. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
^ abcNordlinger, Jay (9 December 2019). "Some erotic evening". The New Criterion. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
^ abcHerman, Michael (August 2020). "Russian, Soviet & Post-Soviet Symphonies" (PDF). musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
Further reading
Konkova, Halyna: Vladimir Kozhukhar: Magiia talanta (in Ukrainian), Kyiv, 2010
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In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming conventions the patronymic is Markovych and the family name is Kozhukhar Volodymyr Markovych Kozhukhar Ukrainian Volodimir Markovich Kozhuhar 16 March 1941 3 December 2022 was a Soviet and Ukrainian conductor and academic teacher who focused on opera Most notably he conducted and taught in Kyiv and Moscow among other places Volodymyr KozhukharVolodimir KozhuharBornVolodymyr Markovych Kozhukhar 1941 03 16 16 March 1941Vinnytsia Ukrainian SSR Soviet UnionDied3 December 2022 2022 12 03 aged 81 OccupationsConductoracademic teacherOrganizationsSymphony Orchestra of the Ukrainian SSR Stanislavski and Nemirovich Danchenko Music Theatre Gnesin Music and Pedagogy Institute National Opera of Ukraine Kyiv ConservatoryAwardsMedal For Distinguished Labor 1980 People s Artist of the RSFSR 1985 People s Artist of Ukraine 1993 Order of Merit of Ukraine 3rd class 2001 Order of Merit of Ukraine 2nd class 2006 Order of Merit of Ukraine 1st class 2016 His first post was chief conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Ukrainian SSR producing several recordings In Moscow he was chief conductor of the Stanislavski and Nemirovich Danchenko Music Theatre from 1977 and professor of orchestral conducting at the Gnesin Music and Pedagogy Institute from 1978 In Kyiv he directed the National Opera of Ukraine from 1989 to 2011 and taught at the Kyiv Conservatory from 1993 He conducted both internal operatic repertoire and stage works by Ukrainian composers and took the opera company on tours throughout Europe Canada and Japan Kozhukhar received the Order of Merit of Ukraine 1st class in 2016 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Youth and education 1 2 Early career 1 3 Opera and ballet 1 4 Teaching 1 5 Personal life 2 Recordings 3 Awards 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksBiography EditYouth and education Edit Kozhukhar was born in Vinnytsia According to a 2011 interview Kozhukhar was drawn to conducting at the age of 18 when he was enrolled at the Kyiv Conservatory as an instrumentalist who also composed music as a hobby He also spent much time studying orchestral scores which caught the attention of fellow students and later school administrative staff Despite being invited to study conducting Kozhukhar initially declined the offer His teachers persuaded him to reconsider telling him that a single orchestral instrument was not enough for him 1 He proceeded to study conducting with Mikhail Kanerstein 2 at the Kyiv Conservatory and graduated from there in 1963 3 Kozhukhar also continued post graduate studies in conducting with Gennady Rozhdestvensky at the Moscow Conservatory 2 Early career Edit Kozhukhar began conducting professionally in 1964 4 He became conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Ukrainian SSR later State Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine 3 and in 1967 their chief conductor 4 Opera and ballet Edit Kozhukhar conducted at the Kyiv Opera and Ballet Theatre from 1973 to 1977 3 From 1977 to 1988 he was chief conductor of the Stanislavski and Nemirovich Danchenko Music Theatre in Moscow 3 2 In 1989 he became chief conductor of the National Opera of Ukraine in Kyiv where he led classical repertoire and also works by Ukrainian composers including Lysenko s Taras Bulba Lyatoshynsky s The Golden Hoop and Yevhen Stankovych s 2001 ballet Vikings 4 He conducted Rodion Shchedrin s Carmen Suite written in 1967 for Shchedrin s wife the ballerina Maya Plisetskaya and scored for string orchestra with percussion the choreography was by Alberto Alonso A reviewer noted that he conducted with all qualities necessary for the charged erotic dramatic score 5 In 2019 Kozhukhar programed the work with Rimsky Korsakov s Scheherazade 5 wherein the choreography by Michel Fokine was revived 5 Kozhukhar took part in a gala concert Masterpieces of World Music The company toured Europe Canada Lebanon and Japan Performances that he led on tours included Tchaikovsky s Mazeppa in Paris in 1992 Verdi s Nabucco at the Strasbourg Music Festival of 1993 and Shostakovich s Katerina Izmailova in Naples 4 He held the post until 2011 3 Teaching Edit Kozhukhar taught opera and orchestral conducting at the Kyiv Conservatory from 1965 to 1977 orchestral conducting at the Gnesin Music and Pedagogy Institute in Moscow from 1978 to 1988 and was a professor at the Kyiv Conservatory from 1993 3 Personal life Edit Kozhukhar had acquired the nickname The Tracker from violinist Oleh Krysa because according to him a soloist could not get away from him Later he was also known as The Computer a nickname which Kozhukhar said he enjoyed Keeping in mind that a conductor has got to think faster than everyone else sitting before him I am not offended by the name Fooling me is impossible I hear everything I tell performers that the only times I make no comments during rehearsal are if they are brilliant or if they are hopeless 1 Kozhukhar died on 3 December 2022 at age 81 4 Recordings EditKozhukhar recorded works by Ukrainian composers such as Borys Lyatoshynsky Andriy Shtoharenko Lev Kolodub Vitaliy Hubarenko and Myroslav Skoryk 3 In 1970 he recorded Heorhiy Maiboroda s Symphony No 2 1952 revised 1966 with the Ukrainian SSR State Symphony Orchestra 6 37 He recorded two symphonies by Levko Revutsky the Symphony No 1 in A major Op 3 1916 21 rev 1957 combined with the Maiboroday symphony in 1970 and the Symphony No 2 in E major Op 12 1926 7 rev 1940 and 1970 in 1973 6 69 He recorded Serdar Mukhatov s Symphony No 2 in 1981 6 53 Awards EditKozhukhar was awarded the Order of Merit of Ukraine of the first degree in 2016 4 References Edit a b Vladimir Kozhuhar chelovek orkestr Politicheskie Izvestiya v Ukraine in Russian 16 March 2011 Archived from the original on 10 December 2022 Retrieved 10 December 2022 a b c Bentya Yuliya 24 January 2008 Muzykalnyj tyazheloves ClassicalMusicNews Ru in Russian Archived from the original on 10 December 2022 Retrieved 10 December 2022 a b c d e f g Kozhukhar Volodymyr Encyclopedia of Ukraine 2017 Retrieved 5 December 2022 a b c d e f Bogdanok Olena 4 December 2022 Pomer dirigent Volodimir Kozhuhar Conductor Vladimir Kozhukhar died in Ukrainian Suspilne Media Retrieved 5 December 2022 a b c Nordlinger Jay 9 December 2019 Some erotic evening The New Criterion Retrieved 7 December 2022 a b c Herman Michael August 2020 Russian Soviet amp Post Soviet Symphonies PDF musicweb international com Retrieved 7 December 2022 Further reading EditKonkova Halyna Vladimir Kozhukhar Magiia talanta in Ukrainian Kyiv 2010External links EditVolodymyr Kozhukhar discography at Discogs Volodymyr Kozhukhar Operabase Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Volodymyr Kozhukhar amp oldid 1133076673, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
