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Draft:Alexander Skwortsow

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Alexander Skwortsow (1944–2010) was a Russian-Dutch classical violinist known for his work as a soloist and orchestral leader across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Early Life and Education

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Alexander Skwortsow was born in 1944 in Novosibirsk, Siberia. He began his music education with piano lessons from his mother, a concert pianist, starting at age six. Two early musical experiences—watching a gypsy ensemble and hearing the violinist David Oistrakh perform—shifted his focus from piano to violin.

At the age of ten, Skwortsow was accepted into a violin school in Novosibirsk. At sixteen, he made his solo debut with the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra, performing Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No. 1 and Vieuxtemps' Violin Concerto No. 4. He won first prize twice in the national youth music competition of the U.S.S.R.

At age nineteen, Skwortsow traveled to Russia's northern provinces to record and transcribe regional folk music, aiming to preserve it for future generations.[1]

Advanced Studies and Career Development

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Following his work with the Novosibirsk Philharmonic, Skwortsow attended the Leningrad Conservatory, where he enrolled in conducting and orchestral soloist programs. He studied violin with Professor Boris Sergeiff, who emphasized traditional repertoire, and Boris Goldstein, known for his focus on virtuosic violin literature. Skwortsow also joined a string quartet and studied conducting.

At twenty-two, he joined the Leningrad Philharmonic while continuing his studies.

Career in the Netherlands and Germany

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In 1977, Skwortsow emigrated to the Netherlands, where he became First Violinist with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and a member of the Rotterdam String Quartet. In 1982, he joined the Luebecker Philharmonic in Germany as First Concertmaster, performing works by composers such as Bach and Mozart.[2]

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

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In 1987, Skwortsow accepted an invitation to become First Concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in Canada, which was experiencing financial challenges. He performed in several benefit concerts to support the Symphony, remaining with the orchestra for two years before returning to the Netherlands to focus on solo and recording projects.[3][4]

Solo Career and Tours

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In his later career, Skwortsow toured internationally, performing in France, the United States, Portugal, Monte Carlo, Japan, and other countries.[5][6]

Death and Legacy

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Alexander Skwortsow died on 24 November 2010 [7] in Hilversum, Netherlands. His career is noted for his technical skill, focus on preservation of folk music, and contributions to the classical music community in Russia, the Netherlands, and other regions.

References

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  1. ^ Hanschke, Gerhard (1985-02-16). "Warhlich ein Glück für Lübeck". Lübecker Nachrichten. p. 18.
  2. ^ Hanschke, Gerhard (1985-11-01). "Skwortsow riß die Hörer zu Beifallsstürmen hin". Lübecker Nachrichten. p. 17.
  3. ^ Elliot, Nancy (1991-02-25). "Skwortsaw [sic] excites audience". The Courier. p. 2.
  4. ^ Fleming, Stuart (1988-04-14). "Guest violinist brought audiences to their feet". The Vancouver Sun. p. 20.
  5. ^ "Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra | About the SSO".
  6. ^ Baker, Robert (1999-04-01). "A Russian Master beautifully handled by Knox-Galesburg Symphony with Alexander Skwortsow". The Galesburg Post & The Knoxville Journal. p. 11.
  7. ^ "Violinist Alexander Skwortsow (1944-2010)". www.skwortsow.com.