Alissa Firsova facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alissa Firsova
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| Алиса Фирсова | |
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| Born | 24 July 1986 |
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Alissa Firsova (Russian: Алиса Фирсова) is a talented Russian-British musician. She is known as a classical composer, a pianist, and a conductor. She was born on July 24, 1986.
Alissa was born in Moscow, Russia. Her parents, Elena Firsova and Dmitri Smirnov, are also composers. In 1991, when she was five years old, her family moved to the United Kingdom.
When she was 15, Alissa won a big competition called the BBC/Guardian/Proms Young Composer Competition. She won with her piano piece titled "Les Pavots."
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Becoming a Musician
Alissa studied at the Purcell School, where she focused on composing and playing the piano. She graduated from there in 2004. Later, in 2009, she graduated from the Royal Academy of Music as a pianist. While there, she also started learning how to conduct music.
Learning to Conduct
In 2009, Alissa began a special course at the Royal Academy of Music to become a conductor. She learned from a famous teacher named Colin Metters.
Piano and Composition Teachers
Alissa had many excellent piano teachers, including Tatiana Kantorovich and Stephen Kovacevich. For composition, she learned from teachers like Jonathan Cole. She also attended workshops with well-known composers such as Nicholas Maw.
Performing and Composing
Alissa Firsova has performed in many famous concert halls. In May 2009, she made her debut at Wigmore Hall. Soon after, in August, she performed at the Royal Albert Hall during the Proms festival. There, she played Stravinsky's Les Noces.
Premieres and Recordings
In August 2010, her piece "Bach Allegro" was played for the first time at the Royal Albert Hall. The BBC Proms had asked her to write this piece. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed it.
Alissa has also released her first solo piano CD, called Russian Emigres. Her music was featured in a special Proms event on August 27, 2015. This event included the first performance of her piece "Bergen’s Bonfire." The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra played this piece.
Selected Musical Works
Alissa Firsova has composed many pieces of music. Here are some of her works:
- Op. 1, Les Pavots for solo piano
- Op. 2, Strength Through Joy for symphony orchestra
- Op. 3, Three Pieces for cello and piano
- Op. 4, The Entire City for string quintet
- Op. 5, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in heaven for wind and string ensemble
- Op. 6, Rhapsody for solo violin
- Op. 7, Lyrisches Stuck for viola and piano
- Op. 8, Prophet for mixed chorus
- Op. 9, Expressions for clarinet and piano
- Op. 10, Loss for clarinet quintet
- Op. 11, The Endless Corridor for piano
- Op. 12, Birth of Remembrance for flute, clarinet, violin and cello
- Op. 13, Lune Rouge for piano
- Op. 14, Age of Reason for string quartet
- Op. 15, Celebration for clarinet, flute, violin and cello
- Op. 16, Tamaris for two cellos
- Op. 17, Bluebells for piano solo, clarinet, horn, string quartet and percussion
- Op. 18, Paradiso for string quartet
- Op. 19, Freedom (Clarinet Concerto)
- Op. 20, Zhivago Songs to Boris Pasternak's poems for voice and piano
- Op. 21, Moonlight over the Sea based on Munch's painting for solo violin
- Op. 22, Chateau de Canisy for voice and piano
- Op. 23, Souvenir Melancolique for clarinet and horn
- Bach Allegro for large symphony orchestra (a special version of Bach's 3rd Viola da Gamba Sonata, BWV 1029). This was a Proms Commission in 2010.
- Op. 24, Kubla Khan for tenor, bayan, violin and cello
- Op. 25, Gallo Variations for chamber orchestra
- Op. 26, Unity for bass-baritone and piano
- Op. 27, Serenade for Strings for string orchestra
- Op. 28, Paradisi Gloria for SATB choir a cappella
- Op. 29, Fantasy for cello and piano
- Op. 30, Stabat Mater for SATB choir a cappella
- Op. 31, Bergen’s Bonfire for Symphony Orchestra
- Op. 32, Tree of Hope for 4 Harps
- Op. 33, Le Soleil de Conques for two solo cellos and string orchestra
- Op. 34, Bride of the Wind for piano-duet
- Op. 35, Asiago Concerto for piano trio and chamber orchestra
- Op. 36, Tennyson Fantasy for string quartet
