In 1994 a duet came into existence at the Belarusian State Academy of Music (BSAM) consisting of Igor Ivanov (balalaika) and Andrej Sivakov (bayan) two 3^rd year students of the folk instruments department. The numerous performances given in Belarus were the duet"s first success. In 1996 they performed quite successfully on tour in Germany and France.

In 1997 the idea to organize a quartet was suggested: the duet was joined by two more BSAM students: Alena Dikovitskaja-Ivanova (domra) and Gennady Chrulkievich (bass guitar). In the same year the quartet went on tour abroad for the first time.

The duet did not cease performing either. I. Ivanov and A. Sivakov studied and worked on probation at the BSAM in “solo performance” and “chamber ensemble” (the supervisor of studies - Prof. V. A. Chaban). In this connection the quartet had ceased performing since 1998.

In 1999 the duet was offered work in the Belarusian State Philharmonic (BSPh) where the musicians were working for the next two years. At this time the members of the former quartet as well as of the duet won several international competitions" prizes as soloists.

In 2001 the quartet resumed performing under the name “Slavianie”. It consisted of the International competitions" prize winner Igor Ivanov (balalaika), the International competitions" prize winner Andrej Sivakov (bayan), the International competitions" laureate Alena Dikovitskaja-Ivanova (domra)  , the soloist of the BSPh Nicolai Abramovich (bass guitar). The ensemble continued working in the Philharmonic Society for the children and the youth.

Since November 2003 the quartet has become the independent unit of the BSPh. The Art council of the BSPh took a decision to rename it into “The Ivanov"s Ensemble of Soloists”.

At present the ensemble performs successfully in Minsk, goes on tour in the Republic of Belarus and abroad.

Judging by the repertoire and by the way the quartet performs it keeps to the academic school. Its concert programs include the world classical pieces side by side with bright and artistically perfect arrangement of folk Slavic music. Considerable part of the programs consists of the Belarusian authors" compositions.  

The musicians are considerate towards the music stylistics of the Baroque epochs. The original classical pieces do not loose their artistic qualities in I. Ivanov"s and A. Sivakov"s transcriptions. On the contrary they get enriched with new timbre tinges, sound fresh and up-to-date preserving their stylistic features. The ensemble"s repertoire is constantly increasing. It gets wider and more diverse. They have already recorded several CDs.

Having given hundreds and hundreds of concerts for their so far not very long artistic life the ensemble takes an active part in the cause of education. Their philharmonic concerts are sold out and always make a success. The ensemble"s popularity grows year after year. Their rich repertoire and the musicians" mastery allows them to introduce the chamber music to the broad masses of audience and to increase the number of the music admirers. Each concert of theirs is a real event.

 

 

Professor of the BSAM,

Candidate of art studies V. A. Chaban.

e-mail: iva-ans@rambler.ru