Irina Kljujev - Montenegro

How do I evaluate the courses this year

l. Why have you decided to take part in these Courses? Have you ever attended other courses, and which ones?
The reason why I want to take part in these Courses is because I believe the selection of professors will be highly beneficial for the direction I want my professional career in music to develop. I have taken part in several masterclasses:
Masterclasses with Professor Konstantin Boginoa, Kotor, Kotor, Montenegro 1998;
Masterclasses with Professor Boris Kraljevic, Cetinje, Montenegro 2000;
Alexander technique and Piano Masterclasses with Professor Nelly Ben-Or, London, England 2005;
North London Piano School - Piano courses with Prof. Ruth Harte, Fazliddin Husanov, William Fong, Andrew Haigh, Julian Jacobson, Leonid Kontorovsky, Irina Ossipova, Michael Schreider 2005.

2. Have you ever visited the Czech Republic ?
Unfortunately, I have never visited the Czech Republic before.

3. What do you know about our teachers?
I know that all three pianists who are going to teach at the courses are internationally acclaimed performers. I am best acquainted with Professor Kubalek whose recordings I have been listening to for some time now, and also Professor Hnat whose biography I have read. I find very interesting that he studied with Prof. Neihaus because one of my former professors also ranks among artists of that school, as he was one of Professor Leo Neumov’s students.

4. What do you think about learning English in our Courses?
Generally, I find it very useful to attend English courses. Basics of my English lie in the range of books that I have read but I have never actively participated in any courses. I believe languages contribute to the development of the left hemisphere of the brain a great deal, which is why I always try to learn something about any language. In my opinion, it is useful to find the time to study.

5. And the last question – Would you like to ask your teachers anything?
As each artist has a different view and perception toward music, I have a lot of questions but I will save them for the time when I arrive at the courses. However, there is one overall question I would like to ask all the three lecturers: How do you see the future of classical music that has been strongly influenced by constant transformation of values and standards over the last 20 years, and how do you see its development. Now that we have entered 21st century, and 20th century being involved with all kind of various movements and rapid contradictions in terms of ideals artists were striving to achieve, what logical direction the classical music will take according to your opinion.

Jarmila Pohlova was asking

"Classical music - if spoken about in broader sense - is a purely European phenomenon. In terms of history it is a rather cohesive development stream, although individual periods show many differences - it would be sufficient to compare a renaissance vocal composition to a composition by Bach. With a romantic period coming to its close other ways of composing started to emerge differing from the classical-romantic way codified by J. S. Bach once and for all in terms of harmony. "Old" and "new" ways (e.g. dodecaphony) existed concurrently as for example the Euclidian and non-Euclidian geometry. Naturally, it is impossible to forecast the development of music composition. No Nobel Prize awardees would be able to predict the future of their scientific branches or even of the science in its entirety. There is no reason why artists, be they composers or performers, should posses any prophetic skills."

Lecturers of the Antonin Kubalek Piano Courses 2006 are answering students' questions
Thank you for your question. I am looking forward to the courses very much. For one thing, I really enjoy learning at this level and what’s more it helps me develop my personality and performance skills. For another, apart from two older colleagues I am also going to meet talented and nice people of almost the same age with whom there will surely be much to talk about.
Ivo Kahanek

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