World renowned violin virtuoso Alexander Markov’s
Peaceful days in Cyprus

One of the best violin virtuosi, Markov left his mark on Cypriot audiences with two amazing performances during the 4th International North Cyprus Music Festival. Markov said that he considers his Cyprus visits as pleasant trips apart from their professional aims and that he was pleased to fly with CTA.

You have been to Cyprus several times before. How do you feel in Cyprus?
Cyprus is a very peaceful island. Besides, I am very happy with the annual music festival that promotes the kind of musical activities this country longs for. Therefore, I want to contribute on my behalf as an artist to these cultural activities in Cyprus.
Do you enjoy being here, apart from the professional aims? Have you adopted a routine in Cyprus?
Cyprus is a wonderful place to relax and to take a deep breath to slow down. However, this time we had a different kind of excitement, a faster rhythm, because of a special event. This year, we performed the rock concerto and a few days later my recital comprised of a strict classical repertoire. These both required hard work; but it was a sweet rush because I was very pleased and excited that the festival was open to new ideas instead of adopting a strict attitude. The director of the festival, Halil Kalgay has put his heart to not only continuing but also to developing the festival and thus he is open to different musical styles. I am very impressed with the hard work he has put into the organisation of the festival over the years. If it were not for him, surely all these wonderful activities would not be happening on this island. Kalgay is a praiseworthy person doing an extremely difficult job.
You have participated in this music festival throughout the years. Can you compare the first years of the festival and the point it stands at today?
I can say that the festival has developed a lot and I am sure it will continue to develop more in forthcoming years.
What are your impressions of the audiences in Cyprus?
I think they are very enthusiastic audiences. They are open-minded people. I like to be here with these people. That’s why I come back every year.
How does it feel to play at Bellapais Abbey? Does the historical atmosphere have an effect on you?
First of all, Bellapais Abbey is a beautiful place, very romantic. The reverberations are perfect for solo instruments or maybe a Chamber orchestra composed of a only few instruments. Apart from its historical importance and beauty, the musical sense of the abbey is extraordinary and gives me delight while playing the solo violin.
Among the places you have been to give concerts, which places can you list as your favourites?
Well honestly, I really love Turkey and North Cyprus. The people are very friendly, they like coming to the concerts. They are very enthusiastic and open-minded, which is very important. I, myself, learned a lot from the audiences in Turkey and North Cyprus. Everything is so natural here. Accordingly, you feel relaxed as an artist.
You give importance to listening to the performances of young musicians. Did you meet any musically talented youth in Cyprus?
Unfortunately not this year. But last year we had a master class with EMU students. Students in this part of the world are enthusiastic musicians. They are very hungry for some new ideas and opportunities. I believe in order to develop an ambition in something one should be hungry for something. If everything is given, then there will be nothing to explore or seek for. In the west, there are a lot of good teachers, but in this part of the world, it is different. In this picture, I am very glad to offer these people the ideas or opportunities they seek.

Classical vs. Rock
Together with hundreds of people we watched your amazing rock concerto performance. Could you please explain this score?
When we moved to America, I fell in love with two things; the Rock-n-Roll and the girls. I loved Rock-n-Roll so much that I did not just want to listen to it I wanted to become a part of it. I wanted to do something special. Eventually I approached my musical partner, James Remington, and he designed the marvellous electric violin with 6 strings for me. If I am violinist, why not develop the violin, I thought. And we adapted it to Rock music. It is the only one of its kind in the world and we had a patent on this. Then the idea came to combine my classical experience with Rock. In this aspect, the Rock concerto is about my life. It is partly classical and partly hard Rock or Heavy Metal. It is performed by myself and some extraordinary musicians from New York; Gregg Gerson the drummer and Ivan Bodley, the bassist.
What was your objective in composing a Rock concerto? Does the work seek to give a message?
I wanted to do something special to attract the younger audiences to the world of classical music; something ultimately different that would create an effect, shake and awaken the audience. Musically, the Rock concerto has a revolutionary aspect. When playing classical music, you have to follow the traditions of hundreds of years. You have only a limited independent area to interpret but one has to follow the intention of the composer. But in the Rock concerto the music is original. You can do whatever you want as long as it sounds good. You can express one hundred percent of who you are. It offers a musical journey. People do not just come to listen to 50 minutes of music but to enter a different world. I want to grab their attention in the first minute and take them to a different world. That is basically the idea behind it.
Where have you performed the Rock concerto and where did you get the biggest audience? And, why do you think this is so?
Well, actually the Rock concerto is quite a new project.The premiere was held in America only two months ago. Apart from that, we have mainly performed it in Turkey. We played in Izmir, Bursa, Istanbul and Eskisehir. We also played once in Israel. The biggest audience was in Istanbul at the Ataturk Cultural Centre concert.
But in Cyprus we had an unfortunate shift of venue due to the weather. Because of the rain we had to move the stage and all the equipment from the Antique Amphitheatre in Salamis to the closed Sports Centre at Eastern Mediterranean University. I think this is why we did not get as many spectators as we had hoped for.

A DETERMINED AND INNOVATIVE FESTIVAL
You are among the very few virtuosi able to perform Paganini’s 24 Caprices at one recital. Is this the result of long hours of study or a deep love of the composer?
Both actually. Ever since I was very little, I was always fascinated by the image of Paganini.
Well, for the 24 Caprices, I had an opportunity to give a recital in New York at the very beginning of my career. My father gave me the idea to do something really striking and challenging instead of a regular list of sonatas. Thus started the hard marathon and finally the recital, which attracted attention. Then, we shot a film of my performance with Bruno Monsaingeon directing, which was released worldwide on DVD just a short time ago.
You moved from Russia to the US with your family, do you ever wonder where home is?
This is an easy question to answer because obviously it’s the US. Not to forget to mention that there is a wonderful culture in Russia. Actually nowadays, I spend more time in Turkey. Turkey is home to me for now.

Would you like to add anything else?
I would like to emphasise how much I am impressed with the hard work undertaken in the organisation of the music festival in Cyprus. I am very glad to participate in such a festival. I give a lot of concerts around Europe for various organisations. One or two years later, these organisations generally end. But here, it is exactly the opposite. Thanks to the determined attitude of the festival, the interest is getting bigger and bigger every year, giving me a pleasing hope. I take pleasure in watching this grow that is why I come back every year!

007 MARKOV... ALEXANDER MARKOV

How do you keep up with the long hours of flight?
It is fine, I like travelling, I feel relaxed, I sleep or I can even read. It is better to fly a long way than to make connections. Then, you have to spend many hours in a terminal which I find very boring.
Do the many hours of travelling affect your adaptation or performances? What do you do to prevent this?
It does not, really. I have never had any troubles. Maybe in the case of some organizational problems, sometimes I have difficulties. But it happens very seldom indeed.
You said you enjoy coming here. Have you ever flied with CTA in your travels to Cyprus?
Yes, I think last year and the year before, whenever I come to Cyprus for the festival, I travel with CTA. It was, and is a very good experience, I enjoy it.
Have you ever encountered anything interesting during a flight?
Of course, I have encountered a lot of interesting things on my journeys. Once, I remember, I was running very late for one of my flights from Cyprus. And they took me directly onto the plane from the runway only a few minutes before the plane took off. I felt like James Bond.
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A living legend

With Aslı Özgen

Translation by: Aslı Özgen

(Caretta /2007)

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