Donemus Webwinkel — Manotskov, Alexander

Alexander Manotskov (b. 1972) studied Anthropology at St.-Petersburg University (1989-1993, master) and at Anthropology Museum (1993-1994, postgraduate studies). Studied musical composition with A.Yusfin and V.Guyvoronsky (1992-2000), also studied various national musical traditions (Middle East, Central Africa, the Don region, Caribbean music, Karnatik music) with their authentic bearers. Has been working as a full-time freelance composer since 1995. Taught Music and Composition in Theatre at Shkola-Studija MKHAT (Moscow Art Theatre Theatre School) in 2008-2011. Occasionally works as choir master, choir and orchestra conductor, music producer. Has participated as multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, leader and conductor in many groups and projects of new, early, jazz, traditional and other kinds of music. In 2013 curated musical programmes and was composer-in-residence at Platforma, the then leading contemporary arts center in Moscow. Author of works for solo instruments and various chamber ensembles, for orchestra, vocal cycles, concertos, operas. Manotskov's music has been performed by, among others, Bolshoi Theatre orchestra, choir and soloists, Latvian Baroque Orchestra, the Sirine choir, Russian Cinematography Orchestra, Tromso Chamber Orchestra, Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble, SISU percussion trio (Norway), N'Caged Ensemble (Moscow), Tatiana Grindenko's Opus Posth ensemble (Moscow), Pokrovsky Chamber Opera Theatre (Moscow). Also, has written over twenty scores for theatre productions in Moscow, St-Petersburg, Warsaw, London, Tromsø, Riga, Drammen, Duesseldorf, around ten film scores (awards in Italy and Russia). His Norwegian opera Haugtussa ran 46 performances in Rogaland Teater, Stavanger, in 2011. Manotskov's opera Gvidon received the Best Experimental Production award at the 2011 Golden Mask Russian National Theatre Festival and is still in repertoire at Vasiliev Theatre in Moscow. His recent opera Titius the Irreproachable premiered in 2015 and is currently in repertoire at Pokrovsky Chamber Opera Theatre, Moscow. Manotskov's First Symphony (Twenty Five Year Symphony) was commissioned by and was premiered at the Baltiysky Dom Festival in St-Petersburg, Russia in October 2015. Also has written and directed several site-specific musical performances for various art and music festivals.