Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6 - 1st book
Gstaad Piano Academy 2019 with Sir András Schiff
Recorded live on July 22, 2019
Elena Nefedova plays Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6 – 1st book by Robert Schumann
Elena Nefedova was born in Moscow on 21st November 1990. In 2009 she successfully graduated the Central Music School in the class of Kira Shashkina. Same year she entered the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory (Professor Vera Gornostaeva). In 2011 Elena moved to Rome where she graduated the “Santa Cecilia” Conservatory. Furthermore, she followed regularly annual courses of Bulgarian pianist Ivan Donchev. Elena is winner of several international competitions: Andrea Baldi International Competition (Bologna, 2015), Skrjabin Piano competition (Paris, 2007), “Vera Lotar-Shevchenko” (Novisibirsk 2010), “Aldo Ciccolini international competition” (Rome, 2011). She was invited to perform in France, Germany, Italy, Greece and in South Africa. Elena has performed as a soloist with Russian National Orchestra, The Moscow Chamber Orchestra “Musica Viva”, Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra, Florence Chamber Orchestra, “Virtuosi Italiani” Chamber Orchestra. In October 2016 she won “Premio Venezia” National Piano Competition at the Teatro “La Fenice” in Venice. This result contributed in an important way to the development of Elena’s career and gave her series of important concert engagements in Europe.
A Masterclass Like No Other
There are as many different types of masterclasses as there are musicians: The masterclasses taught at the Gstaad Piano Academy by Sir András Schiff are particularly revealing and informative. They are a special treat for both the young pianists as well as the ever-growing audience visiting the town hall in Saanen. (Sir András Schiff’s masterclasses are open to the public.
The Hungarian pianist puts emphasis on studying what he feels are the essential composers: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert. With short, yet precise and always generous comments Schiff instructs his students to be true to the great composer’s score whilst sharing their own originality and personality with the audience. «If a pianist only hears two colours, whatever his fingers «produce» can’t be of much value. However, the highly subjective performances of Alfred Cortot created millions of colours and shades, not unlike the masterpieces of great painters.»
How to get to the bottom of a masterpiece?
Sir András Schiff’s masterclasses are outstanding. In contrast to the many teachers who like to interrupt their students regularly to correct their playing, Schiff allows their music to evolve. Sometimes he takes his time and listens to an entire phrase. And we, the audience consider ourselves lucky, because we get to enjoy an whole concert, analysed by the master himself. Sir András Schiff believes that only in this manner one can strive to be true to the score – and express the composer’s truth, not the interpreter’s vision. He also shared with us the fact that whilst studying in Budapest he learned more from composers, notably György Kurtág and Pál Kadosa, than he ever learned from other pianists.
