Valerij
Kisseljow
Valerij Kisseljow comes from Omsk in Russia and found his way to the mandolin by way of the Russian domra. At the Gnessin Academy in Moscow he studied domra and conducting and was a member of the Ossipov National Orchestra, before moving to Germany and making the mandolin his principal instrument with Marga Wilden-Hüsgen in Wuppertal.
Today he is sought after at leading opera and concert houses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland — from early music to the avant-garde of «Klangforum Wien» and «Collegium Novum Zürich». With Elena Kisseljow he forms the Duo «Opus 1». He teaches at MKZ Zurich and most recently studied composition at the ZHdK.
Education.
From Omsk and Moscow via Wuppertal to Zurich.
- Fachmittelschule für Musik «Schebalin» (bei Viktor Rommel), Omsk.
- Gnessin-Musikakademie, Moskau. Domra (Prof. Kruglov) & conducting (Prof. Abdullayev).
- Musikhochschule Köln · Wuppertal. Mandolin & baroque mandolin (with Marga Wilden-Hüsgen) — diploma in music pedagogy and performance diploma.
- Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (ZHdK). CAS in guitar (with Gertrud Jenny).
- Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (ZHdK). Composition / arranging (with Pierre Funk, Kaspar Ewald and Kurt Widorski).
Awards.
A selection.
- ◆ 1st Prize — International Mandolin Competition Schweinfurt (solo).
- ◆ 1st Prize — All-Russian Competition for Folk Instruments, Magnitogorsk.
- ◆ 3rd Prize — International «Nordpokal» Competition, Cherepovets.
- ◆ Scholarships «Villa Musica» and «Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now» — Cologne, Rhine-Ruhr, Frankfurt.
On stage.
Mandolin, domra and guitar — from early music to the avant-garde.
- ◆ Ensemble «Opus 1» with Elena Kisseljow (since 2005) — concerts in Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Austria, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Japan.
- ◆ Klangforum Wien (contemporary music) — member since 2001.
- ◆ Collegium Novum Zürich.
- ◆ Le NEC, La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland).
- ◆ «Musica Aeterna» (Teodor Currentzis, 2017).
- ◆ Münchner Philharmoniker (Valery Gergiev, 2019) — Elbphilharmonie Hamburg.
- ◆ Ensemble «Wolga-Virtuosen» (Germany).
- ◆ YARUSS-Quartett — founding member (since 2009); incl. Lower Saxony Music Days, Alte Oper Frankfurt, «Zaubersee» Festival Lucerne, WDR Cologne.
- ◆ Ensemble «L'Esprit des Cordes» — early music.
- ◆ Early years in Russia: Ossipov National Orchestra Moscow, Moscow Mandolin Quartet; tours across Russia, Australia and Europe.
- ◆ CD and radio recordings.
Houses.
At leading opera and symphony houses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Recordings.
A selection.
- «Maestro Calace»Romantic music for mandolin and liuto cantabile (Ensemble «Opus 1»).
- «Maestro Kuwahara»Japanese music for mandolin, mandola and guitar (Ensemble «Opus 1»).
- «Dances of Light»with the YARUSS Quartet and Tatjana Masurenko (viola).
- Further recordingsRadio and CD recordings with the Ossipov National Orchestra and the «Volga Virtuosi» (incl. WDR).
Passing it on.
Mandolin at MKZ Zurich — plus courses, ensembles and jury work.
His central teaching position today is at the MKZ — Zurich Conservatory of Music, where he teaches mandolin.
- ◆ Cologne University of Music · Wuppertal — interim professor of mandolin.
- ◆ Kassel Music Academy — lecturer (principal study mandolin, chamber music, literature, didactics).
- ◆ Leipzig Music School & Freiberg Music School.
- ◆ «Amando» plucked-string ensemble, Zurich — director.
- ◆ Youth Plucked-String Orchestra of NRW — mandola tutor.
- ◆ Juror at the regional «Jugend musiziert» competition (category plucked strings / chamber music).
- ◆ Children’s Mandolin Competition, Sparkasse Offenbach — organiser and juror.