Letter from an Unknown Woman Elvira Misbakhova, Belarusian State Chamber Orchestra & Evgeny Bushkov

• Airat Ichmouratov (b. 1973): Concerto grosso, Op. 28:
• 1 Concerto grosso, Op. 28: I. Allegro 07:11
• 2 Concerto grosso, Op. 28: II. Adagio 09:09
• 3 Concerto grosso, Op. 28: III. Allegro con brio 04:49
• 3 Romances, Op. 22:
• 4 3 Romances, Op. 22: No. 1, Moderato 05:37
• 5 3 Romances, Op. 22: No. 2, Adagio 08:29
• 6 3 Romances, Op. 22: No. 3, Largo 07:03
• String Octet in G Minor, Op. 56 "Letter" (Version for String Orchestra):
• 7 String Octet in G Minor, Op. 56 "Letter" (Version for String Orchestra): I. Largo 08:51
• 8 String Octet in G Minor, Op. 56 "Letter" (Version for String Orchestra): II. Allegro 03:49
• 9 String Octet in G Minor, Op. 56 "Letter" (Version for String Orchestra): III. Largo 04:35
• Total Runtime 59:33

Info for Letter from an Unknown Woman

Montreal-based since 1998, Airat Ichmouratov (b. 1973) traces his musical roots back to the dominant culture in his native Tatarstan in Soviet times: It was definitely the Russian school of composers, he says, without rancour. Im influenced to this day by Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Mussorgsky, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky. My own musical style has evolved out of this rich heritage. Theres more. The Volga Tatar-born Russian-Canadian composer learned to play klezmer music while busking, together with his viola-playing wife, as new immigrants on the streets and Métro of Montreal. Ive been touring the world for twenty years as a clarinettist with the Montreal band Kleztory and find myself, a Muslim-born musician, playing klezmer. This, too, is now a distinctive part of my musical language.

Elvira Misbakhova, viola
Belarusian State Chamber Orchestra
Evgeny Bushkov, conductor

Elvira Misbakhova
was born in Russia. She began studying violin at the age of seven and in 1994 entered the Kazan State Conservatory where she took up the viola, which was to become her principal instrument. For three years she was a member of the Kazan State Chamber Orchestra “La Primavera”, as the assistant violist.

In 1999 Elvira came to Canada to pursue her Master’s degree at the University of Montreal under Eleonora Turovsky, and subsequently to complete her Doctorate in Interpretation. During the course of her musical studies she became the winner of the Concerto Competition and in October of 2001 she appeared as the soloist with the Symphony orchestra of the University of Montreal.

In 2002, she had the honor of participating at both the prestigious Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan and the world-renowned Bachacademie festival in Stuttgart, Germany. Elvira Misbakhova is currently pursuing a career as soloist, chamber music and orchestra musician. She appeared as soloist with several orchestras, including Montreal Symphony Orchestra, I Musici de Montreal, Quebec Symphony Orchestra, Les Violons du Roy, Brussels Chamber Orchestra. Since September 2012 Elvira Misbakhova is assistant Concertmaster of the viola section with the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal. Elvira became Kleztory’s violinist in 2001. Her playing, at times impetuous and emotive, constitutes one of the group’s great strengths.

Booklet for Letter from an Unknown Woman