LARISSA DEDOVA Mikhail Volchek

Larissa Dedova began studying the piano at the age of 5, two years later she became a pupil of the Gnessin Special Music School.

Upon graduation, she entered the Moscow State Conservatory where for five years she has been a student of Professor Lev Oborin who greatly influenced her artistic nature. Lev Oborin became her model in the worship of music and teaching.

Professor Yevgeny Malinin guided her in her postgraduate studies. His pedagogical principles and bright artistry greatly contributed to her performance skills. Professor Malinin wrote in the newspaper "Vechernya Moskva": "Larissa Dedova has the makings of a great musician-peculiar individuality, self less love for music, artistry and will"

Since 1974, she has been teaching at the Tchaikovsky Consevatory of Moscow. Her talent in discovering and developing the best ability of students was rewarded. Larissa Dedova has prepared more than 10 winners of major international competitions, including Ivo Pogorelich, M.R.Arietta [prize-winner of Tchaikovsky Competition], Valentina lgoshina [First Prize, Artur Rubinstein Competition, Poland], Maria Maze, Sergey Morozov, Anastasia Ivanova.

She has taught perfecting and virtuosity classes in France [with Sviatoslav Richter and Yevgeny Malinin], in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Croatia, South Korea, Philippines and the United States.

In 1976, Larissa Dedova won the title of a Laureate and the Silver Medal at the I.S.Bach Competition in Leipzig.

At the close of this event, the newspaper "Musikalnye Kadry" acclaimed her: "Larissa Dedova from Moscow played excellently. She is a pianist of lyrical talent with the marvellous possibilities of a virtuoso"

She has toured the then USSR, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia and the United States playing with orchestras and giving solo and duo recitals [with M.Volchok]. The pianist's repertoire shows, above all, the lyrical side of her gift. She plays with special enthusiasm Tchaikovsky's and Rachmaninov's works. Besides, dear to her heart are Beethoven's and Bach's dramatism, the inspired world of poetic images created by Schumann, Chopin and Brahms, the fine drawings of Mozart's sonatas and variations, Debussy's and Ravel's sound pictures, the psychologism and bright originality of Prokofiev's and Shostakovich's works.

On the second column

Her interpretation of this repertoire has been highly praised by the press.

   "Her program of Schumann, Chopin and Debussy brimmed with color, big sound and freedom of phrase. This very personal style did not take her outside traditions, but connected her strongly to kind of playing that predated the era of cool objectivism that characterized a generation of pianists in the West. " Daniel Webster,
The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 10, 1993.
   "The highpoint of the evening was the astonishingly dazzling performance of Anion Arensky's Suite, subtitled "Silhouettes". Each of its five movements was brilliantly characterized with audacious pianism and delectable humor. "
Harris Goldsmith,
New York Concert Review, December 1996.
   "Larissa Dedova, helped by an excellent memory, offered the audience a fascinating and sensitive interpretation of Chopin, never devoid of charm and of intimate romanticism.
"In the С sharp minor Scherzo, the pianist rendered the details beautifully, while emphasizing the significance of each musical phrase. "
Renato della Torre.
Messaggero Veneto,1993.
   "...it is Chopin, sincere and spontaneous, and what is most important, very clear and classically well-proportioned. Her interpretation of the third movement [Sonata in В minor] is dominated by profound concentration which splendidly contrasts with the impetuous explosion of the finale where Larissa Dedova displays her possibilities as a virtuoso: pearl - like trickles alternate with rolling cascades, to end in a triumphantly optimistic coda... "
Magazine " Muzykalnaya Zhizn ", Moscow.

She has recorded for Melodia label:

* French Music for piano Duo [with Mikhail Volchok]
* Debussy 24 Preludes {album]
* Grieg Lyric and Scrjabin Pieces
* Bach 3 Concertos for 2 pianos and orchestra, with Mikhail Volchok and St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra

For " Morning Storm " label:

* Russian Piano Duo Music [with M.Volchok]

At present Larissa Dedova reconciles active concert activities with pedagogical work at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory.
Larissa Dedova's talent - made of that virtuosity acquired from an early age discipline and gradually developed to technical perfection through music school of the highest level: made of that innate sensitivity also, where the enthusiastic or painful moods felt by Chopin, Brahms or Rachmaninov are forcefully expressed - auguries the pursuit of a brilliant career, continued success, and the recognition of any audience loving piano at its finest!

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