Mikhail Kollontay

Mikhail Georgiyevich Kollontay (; born August 21, 1952 in Moscow), Russian composer and pianist. Also known under his mother's name, Ermolaev.
His father, Georgiy Fyodorovich Kollontay (1897–1954), an artist, was sent to the camps in 1938 (released in 1946, rehabilitated posthumously); his mother, Ekaterina Ilyinichna Ermolaeva (1922–2001), was a translator (English, modern Greek).
Biography.
In 1971 graduated from the Music College attached to the Moscow Conservatory with a double major in piano and in theory/composition. In 1977 received his diploma in piano from the Moscow Conservatory, studying under Professor V. V. Gornostayeva; continued as her assistant in 1979. In 1978 earned his diploma in composition under Professor A. S. Leman. From 1979 member of the Union of Composers of the USSR (RF). Between 1979 and 2003 taught at the Moscow Conservatory (intermittently; first as an assistant to V. Gornostayeva; from 1982 as a faculty member), and, from 1989 to 1991, at the Gnessin Musical Pedagogical Institute (special piano). Beginning in 1991, performed various duties at Moscow churches (altar server, choir singer, guard). Since 2003 professor (piano) at Tainan National University of the Arts (Taiwan, ROC.).
Among Mikhail Kollontay's students are: N. V. Moukhina, M. A. Soboleva, A. V. Sidenko, O. A. Tutova, Lin Yu-Ying (林昱瑩), Kao Pei-Hsin (高培馨), Shen Yu-Lin (沈妤霖), Huang Kuan-Che (黃冠哲), Chien Jay (鄭杰), Wang Yi-Hsing (一幸 王), and Bang-Shyuan Chen (陳邦玄).
Composition.
Kollontay's artistic style was formed under the influence of Russian Church music (from childhood sang in church choirs), the tradition of liturgical reading, the culture of early Russian singing and folklore (worked in the folk music department of the Moscow Conservatory; went on folklore expeditions). All this contributed to the liberation his intonation and his rhythmic, modal and compositional thinking, and to the formation of his own individual style. The following have performed Kollontay's works: Yu. Bashmet, A. Boreiko, N. Burnasheva, A. Golyshev, Schostakovich State Quartet, E. Denisova (Austria), K. Dillingham (USA), I. Zaydenshnir, F. Cadena (Ecuador), A. Kornienko (Austria), Jens E. Christensen (Denmark), E. Kuschnerova (Germany), A. Naumenko (UK), N. Privarskaya, E. Rastvorova, M. Svetlov (USA), E. Serov, B. Tevlin, O. Tutova, V. Fedoseyev, A. Fiseisky, S. Cherepanov (Germany), I. Chukovskaya, V. Chpiller (Taiwan), A. Yakovlev (Argentina), O. Yanovich (USA), and others. Mariinsky Theatre performed "The Captain’s Daughter" opera by Kollontay in a concert version in 2016 for the first time.
Performance activities.
The repertoire of Mikhail Kollontay includes: “The Well-tempered Clavier” of J.S. Bach (volumes 1 and 2; State Radio recordings 1978, 1992, 1995; “Russian Disc” 1991; 2002; 2018); late sonatas of J. Haydn; sonatas of W.A. Mozart; works of L. van Beethoven (including op. 106, recordings of the State Radio 1983, 1992); F. Chopin (four ballades, etudes op. 25, sonata in B-minor, etc.), F. Liszt (Sonata in B minor, "Christmas Tree," etc.); P.I. Tchaikovsky (Piano concerto No. 1, “The Seasons of the Year,” etc.); works of M.I. Glinka (recording of the All-Union Radio, 1986; SWR, Baden-Baden, Germany, 2001); A.S. Dargomyzhsky (recording of the All-Union Radio, 1987); M.A. Balakirev (CD, 1995, a Saison Russe Recording); M.P. Mussorgsky (recording of all piano compositions, Moscow State Conservatory, 2000; recording of “Pictures at an Exhibition” and participation in a TV film dedicated to this composition, 1992, NHK, Japan); Komitas; Yu.M.  Butsko (“Dythyramb” for piano and orchestra, “Melodiya” recording, 1989; Sonata in four fragments, All-Union Radio recording, 1983), B.A. Tchaikovsky, A.A. Bouzovkin, V.G. Arzoumanov, V.V. Ryabov (CD, 2007, Lighthouse).
Performs various solo programmes in Russia and abroad.
Also performed as an accompanist (to E.E. Nesterenko, G.A. Pisarenko, A.M. Ablaberdyeva, N.I. Bournasheva, N.G. Gerasimova, A.P. Martynov, etc.) and in ensembles (with A. Belomestnov, I. Zaydenshnir, A. Melnikov, D. Potyomin).
Conducts performances of his own compositions.
Musical organizational activities.
In 1989—1993 organized and headed the Creative Heritage Commission at the Union of Moscow Composers, which was engaged in preserving the archives of Moscow composers (among those saved are the archives of M. Raukhverger, M. Magidenko, N. Rakov, A. Balashov). Initiated the “Heritage” musical meetings (1990) and chaired the organizing committee. Prepared and presented the 15-hour broadcasts, “The Day of M.I. Glinka’s Music” and “The Day of A.S. Dargomyzhsky’s Music,” “Orpheus” radio station programmes on S.I. Taneyev, G. Enescu, E.G. Gilels, M.A. Balakirev, V.B. Dovgan, N.N. Chargeishvili, A.S. Karamanov, Yu.M. Butsko, and others.
Compiler, editor and author of the introduction and comments to the edition: M. Glinka. Piano Compositions / Russian Piano Music, 2. Moscow: “Muzyka,” 1987 (under the pseudonym E. Nosenko).
Articles.
Has a number of publications in various Russian musicological journals.