Interview with Igor Ardašev
This exceptional performer, whose musical career is dotted with various precious trophies, is also a great lover of nature and mathematics. During our interview I plucked up the courage to ask him a personal question, something I’d been wondering about for some time... Thus I now know (and so do you) that the pianist’s name reflects his Russian origins, a legacy from his grandfather. The following interview, however, focuses purely on matters of music.
You come from a musical family; both parents were teachers. Do you teach as well? Have you ever taught?
So far, I haven’t tried teaching work, even though, thanks to my family background, teaching has always been a part of my life. I see the work of the teacher and the performer as two entirely different worlds, and I have great respect for anyone who is able to do both successfully.
Paul Badura-Skoda was performing in Obecní dům a few weeks ago. What memories do you have of the master classes you attended under this artist? Are you still in contact with him?
I’ve always admired the way Mr Badura-Skoda performs, since I was little, particularly his interpretation of Mozart’s works. We aren’t in contact now, but I still carry with me the impulses I received from him, and in a certain sense I am influenced by them.
Apparently, you have your own special approach to practising, and you often don’t even need the piano. Could you tell us something about that?
I believe that every instrumentalist finds his own way of working eventually, whether he wants to or not. Initially I have to spend some time with just the music, I don’t actually need the instrument for this; I go to the piano only after a concrete idea of the sound starts to take shape.
Your repertoire listed on various web pages doesn’t include the concerto by Aram Khachaturian being performed today. However, I presume that you’ve played it in the past? Or am I wrong?
I haven’t played Khachaturian’s concerto yet and I’m very glad to be able to study this wonderful work.
What are its strengths? What do you find appealing about it?
I particularly admire its harmonic invention.
Apart from your work as a soloist and performing with your wife Renata, also a pianist, you play chamber music as well. Who are your main chamber partners?
I love playing chamber music; I often perform with Mr Ivan Ženatý, last year we did a recording of the collected Beethoven sonatas for Czech Radio. I think the violin and piano go really well together, the sound combination is hard to beat.
Do you think there are still lots of things you could discover on the piano?
The sound possibilities on a piano are inexhaustible, so there’s always something new to discover. Every instrument has its merits and its limitations. Sometimes you have to struggle a little, and at other times you’re surprised at all the things it can do. The piano is a bit like a living creature – it will reward you according to how you treat it.
