R.I.P. Alexander Slobodyanik

[m]

Today in the morning Laryssa Krupa called me with tragic news. Her husband and my dear friend Alexander Slobodyanik passed away this Sunday.
 
He was a legend in his native Russia and Sol Hurok brought him to the US. Somehow he did not become as tremendously popular in the West. It however, does not take one bit away from his incredible artistry and music genius. To be a Great Artist, Great Master, and Great Man one should not necessarily be famous or popular.

He will be missed by many who were close to him. He was a truly spiritual and open soul, a truly artistic mind, a man of dignity, and a man around whom many felt as if a sunshine had come upon them, making them better, more noble in their thoughts and doings.

I will be missing him, his shining kindness, his very special illuminating energy.
I will be missing our countless hours on the phone, telling jokes and anecdotes between talking about artistic plans, the latest news, politics, and life in general.
I will be missing visiting and sitting with him in his kitchen in Morristown, NJ, sometimes until 3-4 in the morning with some bottles of good wine, listening to his endless stories about anybody and everybody—musicians, actors, writers, artists, stage managers, bureaucrats, political figures, sometimes laughing to tears; stories about many of people whom he knew, work with, or was a friend--Neuhaus, Richter, Rostropovitch, Solzhenitzin, Horowitz, Gilels, Gergiev, Bernstein, Hurok, Schostakovitch, etc. etc. etc.

He was one of those around whom one feels there is hope in life. It is hard to believe he is gone. The only thing to make me feel better is a belief that now his restless, vulnerable, and deeply wounded soul finally found rest and peace.

Hopefully we will meet again...

[keypeg]

Marik, please accept my heart felt condolences.

I have found one recording of your friend's work, and am listening to it now:
http://video.google.ca/videosearch?q=Slobodyanik++piano&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f#
What sensitive playing!

Keypeg

[imbetter]

this is such a shame. I also knew slobodyanik from a piano summer program at Suny New paltz. do you know the causes. You where at piano summer once too, right?

[rachfan]

Hi marik,

I'm terribly sorry to learn about the death of your fine and dear friend and mentor, Alexander Slobodyanik.  In one way, a profound and irretrievable loss will forever leave a void in your life.  Then again, from reading your moving account of your time spent together discussing the world of music in all its facets, he greatly enriched your life.  Because of that, he will always be with you.  Please accept my condolences.

David 

[m]

http://www.slobodyanik.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/arts/music/13slobodyanik.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=slobodyanik&st=cse&oref=slogin

[pianistimo]

sincere condolences!  you know you're in russia when 'his concerts required policemen to control the crowds.'  that would be pop stars over here, wouldn't it?

[arensky]

So sorry for your loss Marik. He was an outstanding pianist; his Chopin Etudes recording was among the first I ever heard and one of the best ever. R.I.P.

[general disarray]

Terrible news.  I am indeed very sorry. 

[m]

You are invited to a
Concert - Tribute to Alexander Slobodyanik,
one of the world's Great Romantic Piano Virtuosos,
by his colleagues and friends:

Etery Andjaparidze
Sergey Babayan
Vladimir Feltsman
Alexander Korsantia
Alex Slobodyanik
Susan Starr
Alexander Toradze

January 31, 2009, Saturday 8:00PM
Merkin Hall at Kaufman Center
Goodman House
129 West, 67th Street,
NYC
Box Office 212-501-3330

[tds]

You are invited to a
Concert - Tribute to Alexander Slobodyanik,
one of the world's Great Romantic Piano Virtuosos,
by his colleagues and friends:

Etery Andjaparidze
Sergey Babayan
Vladimir Feltsman
Alexander Korsantia
Alex Slobodyanik
Susan Starr
Alexander Toradze

January 31, 2009, Saturday 8:00PM
Merkin Hall at Kaufman Center
Goodman House
129 West, 67th Street,
NYC
Box Office 212-501-3330

its a great pity that i coudnt attend. a list of fantastic pianists! new yorkers are so lucky

[imbetter]

thank you very much marik i will defenitly  attend with my family. The passing of Alexander Slobodyanik is defenitly a great shame as he was a great artist. Defenitly a great group of pianists will be performing. Will you be attending?

[m]

Will you be attending?

Yes, I will be flying to NYC for this concert.

[m]

Check this out:

[furtwaengler]

I wish I could be there. What are you going to be playing?

[m]

I wish I could be there. What are you going to be playing?

I'm not exactly sure yet, but maybe some Bach Choral Preludes and some Rachmaninov Moments Musicaux. Everything depends on the concert duration and flow.

Best, M

[Karli]

.

[adgo]

He will be missed by many who were close to him. He was a truly spiritual and open soul, a truly artistic mind, a man of dignity, and a man around whom many felt as if a sunshine had come upon them, making them better, more noble in their thoughts and doings.

Hi, I've signed up just to say that you wrote a very beautiful tribute to your friend Alexander Slobodyanik. Hopefully one day his Russian LP recordings will be properly remastered. I have uploaded a couple videos to my Youtube channel of Alexander playing in Russia -- Schnittke PC and a Rachmaninoff Prelude.

ADGO