Oleg Plotnikov

Composer, arranger, teacher, pianist and conductor.

Netherlands

Author

About

Oleg Plotnikov has many talents: composer, arranger, teacher, pianist and conductor. With his excellent education in music and enormous experience he masters all styles in music-from classical to jazz and pleases the public with his piano playing.

Born in Chelyabinsk (Russia).

Received a higher musical education. Studied playing the violin, piano, theory of music, composition, conducting. He wrote music in different genres and styles for various instruments, bands and orchestras, music for theater and TV productions. His works and arrangements were awarded prizes at competitions and festivals in different countries.

In 1992 he moved to the Netherlands with his family, where he continued his artistic career. As well-known virtuoso jazz pianist and the leader of Uralsky Dixiland band-Uralsky All Stars. He gave concerts in various countries of Europe, America, Asia end Africa.

The famous «TIMELESS» records label released a number of CD’s of Oleg Plotnikov.

The combination of active composing and teaching has led to new works for piano, violin, cello, clarinet, vocal, Jazz Big Band - for beginners to professionals. The collection «Homage», released in 2019, received a great recognition.

In 2019, the works of O.Plotnikov were included in the program of the International Piano Competition «Music of the Immortal and Living Composers» held at Carnegie Hall in New York.

In 2020 a collection of piano pieces by Oleg Plotnikov «Planets» was released, It uses a modern musical language.

Among the last works of the composer, one can mention the music for the Ballet «Snowflake and Flower», 3 parts Concerto for Clarinet, variations on the theme of two preludes by A.Skriabin.

Sheets

Interview

What does music mean to you personally?

Music is my language of communication with the outside world. Music lives in me from early childhood and my whole life is connected with the world of music. At the age of 6, picking up a violin, I already realised that I wanted to be a musician, at the age of 11, having started composing, I knew that I would be a composer. I devoted all my further development and education to music and remained faithful to it. Only the vector of activity changed.

Do you agree that music is all about fantasy?

If we consider the concept of «fantasy» as inspiration, then of course, without this, the creative process is impossible. But «fantasy» does not mean uncontrollability. The composer, as an artist, must give it a harmonious form, depth, breathe meaning into it and endow it with artistic content. Only then will she be inspired by the performer’s fantasy, and he, in turn, will awaken the listener’s fantasy.

If you were not a professional musician, what would you have been?

I don’t think I would have gone the other way. The creative spirit is an integral part of my character, so whatever I do besides music, it will be an activity related to creativity.

The classical music audience is getting old, are you worried about the future?

I think this is a problem of all time. For young people it is not academic music that is more attractive, but the music of its time. It requires new forms, genres, and a new approach. But I don’t think the classic genres will suffer from this.

What do you envision the role of music to be in the 21st century? Do you see that there is a transformation of this role?

Communication with music is necessary for a person to remain a person and not to lose moral guidelines. The role of classical music in this is irreplaceable. The main thing is the quality of music and performance.

Do you think that the musician today needs to be more creative? What is the role of creativity in the musical process for you?

A composer, in order to be interesting for the younger generation, must keep up with the times. Search for new means of expression, new sounds, use of new technical capabilities.

Do you think we as musicians can do something to attract the younger generation to music concerts? How would you do this?

I don’t know any other way how to acquaint a person in childhood with good and high- quality music. I am engaged in pedagogy. And are many children who want to learn music. The teacher’s task is to make this communication with music interesting, so that it grows into a need. I welcome government programs to introduce children to classical music, as is done in Austria or Japan with attending classical concerts.

Tell us about your creative process. What is your favorite piece (written by you) and how did you start working on it?

The creative process is unpredictable. Sometimes the whole work gradually grows out of some grain. It can be a couple of notes or a chord. Or a melody born in the head at night. And sometimes you have to hurry up to record an elusive musical thought. This process is continuous, it is impossible to stop it until the work is finished. Recently, I have been implementing plans to write variations on a couple Preludes of A.Scriabin. A composer who always interested me very much.

Can you give some advice for young people who want to discover classical music for themselves?

The paths can be very different. Just touch it. Sometimes the music you hear at a concert captures you, makes you want to learn more about it, or take notes and try to play. As a teacher, I always support such an initiative.

Do you think about the audience when composing?

No. I think about the music itself and how the composition satisfies me as an author.

What projects are coming up? Do you experiment in your projects?

Now I am busy with to make score of the «Planets» cycle for a symphony orchestra. To implement this idea, I want to use a number of non-typical set of musical instruments