Ilya Demutsky is a multi-award winning composer, performer, and conductor. The Russian based polymath's work spans orchestral work and chamber ensembles, alongside electronic and film music.
An active performer in various choral societies of St. Petersburg and San Francisco, Demutsky has also worked as film composer, working alongside award-winning film directors such as Sergey Miroshnichenko. Never one to rest on his creative laurels, Demutsky also composed music for the Paralympic Games Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremony. We spoke to Demutsky about the creative culture in Russia, his inspirations, love of collaborations, and more.
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What do you love about Russia
I love its inspiring contradiction. Obsequiousness gets along with a love of freedom here. Depravity is the neighbor of righteousness, kitsch, and beauty. An artist can never be bored here.
What area do you find yourself in the most and why?
I was born in Saint Petersburg, I live and compose music here. The institutions which commission music to me are mostly located in Moscow, though. So for the rehearsal periods and performances, I usually move to Moscow.
How would you describe people’s personal style?
In St Petersburg, it is classical with a little touch of irony.
I love my food homemade and extremely simple. There is nothing more delicious to spontaneously stop near the winery and taste local products. What I really miss is a couple of restaurants in Florence. Buca Lapi or Tredici Gobbi, to mention a couple.
Favorite late-night spot and why?
The night is my time for work. Therefore, my place is my office. A grand piano, a glass of wine or whiskey, depending on the music. The complete absence of people. And my two pets - a cat and a cat.
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Can you tell us about somewhere you go to feel inspired?
St Petersburg roof views, seagulls and water (the Neva river or Baltic sea) inspire me. Surrounding reality. Everything that is created by nature or man, but does not leave indifferent.
What is your day to day like at the moment?
At the moment I live in Dacha located 80 km from St Petersburg. While I am working on a new large scale work (ballet or opera), I start my regular day with a cup of coffee walking in the garden. Then I do some studies, readings, interviews, and answer some business e-mails. Starting at about 2 pm, I go to my studio where I compose till about 10 pm. After a late dinner, I watch a good movie with a glass of wine.
Are there any artists we should check out?
I don’t have a single favorite artist. Depending on what I am currently working on, I discover talented people from different time periods and fields of activity. I am very close to Italian culture, in particular, music - Nino Rota, Ennio Moricone, Dario Marianelli. Also, cinema – Michelangelo Antonioni, Luchino Visconti, Federico Fellini, Bernardo Bertolucci, Paolo Sorrentino, Giuseppe Tornatore
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Who is your favorite music artist?
Honestly, I don’t have time to listen to other people’s music, but I always carefully listen to original music at theaters (both music and drama) and at the cinema. And of course, I listen to a different kind of music while I am doing some studies for my future works, mostly classical or contemporary classical. The best music for me is silence.
How would you describe the creative community?
In my opinion, the creative community is diverse here. You can easily find a like-minded artist, but there are lots of aesthetic opponents, too. And this is wonderful since it gives you a wider range of impressions.
How has the pandemic affected your creative process?
For composers, it is necessary to be in isolation for successful writing. Although some of my premiers have been postponed, my creative process has not changed.
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Who would you love to collaborate with and why?
Since I do a lot of projects at music theater, collaboration is an essential part of any production. A huge team consisting of a director, choreographer, dancers, singers, costume, and set designer are usually involved to create new and interesting multi-layered work. I am happy that I work with the best of the best people in these fields.
It makes sense to note the collaborations with historical ideas. In my opera, The Black Square, the main character is the original painting by Malevich. It was this picture that laid the foundation for all the contemporary art of the 20th century.
And in the Chanel ballet, I am grateful that I became the first composer in the world who reflected in music the fate of a great woman - Coco Chanel. This ballet is my first attempt to contribute to fashion. Fashion designers were always a part of opera and ballet. I dream to pay back and make something special to a fashion show, or for a great fashion brand like Salvatore Ferragamo or Gucci, or the institution of Pitti Immagine.
What are you working on at the moment?
Currently, I am working intensively on a new full-length ballet commissioned by the Bolshoi Theater. It is called The Seagull, based on a famous play by Anton Chekhov. The world premiere is scheduled for July 2021.
Ballet ‘Nureyev’ - in France and USA, ballet ‘Gabriel Chanel’ in France, ballet ‘The hero of our time’ in Israel, ballet “Anna Karenina” (after the success in Chicago), and 40 performances in Australia.
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Great, thanks for your time!
With thanks to Concert Hall Capella Saint Petersburg for providing the shoot location.
