... The creaking of ship pines. Mournful screams of a night bird. Splash of water. The chirp of cicadas. The echo from your steps spreads far across the water - a walk to the Long Lake ... How to convey the whole gamut of these sounds? How to be able to talk about your feelings and innermost thoughts? Probably, these questions are alien to the virtuoso guitarist Ivan Smirnov. He plays as he breathes, and his guitar tells, tells, tells…
The concert of the famous Russian guitarist, composer, arranger and simply incredibly talented person Ivan Smirnov, organized by Elena von Heifen with the support of Sheikh Zayed University (Abu Dhabi), took place on June 12, 2007 in the Dubai five-star One & Only Royal Mirage hotel. To listen to the artist’s performance came those who need true art, like air. Those who know that Russian performers put their soul into their work ... The audience, as always at such concerts, was multinational, but united everyone with love and nostalgia for real Russian music penetrating the heart.
Ivan Smirnov (electro-acoustic guitar), accompanied by a musical trio: Sergei Klevensky (ethnic wind instruments, clarinet, keyboards), Mikhail Smirnov (keyboards, percussion) and Ivan Smirnov Jr. (acoustic guitar). The concert program included old and new compositions: “Meeting” and “Long Lake” from the album “For Distant Lands”; "Among the Desert" from the album "The Country where the Sun Nights"; perky, singing Russian folk music, "Balalaika" and many others. Anyone who has visited Ivan Smirnov’s concert at least once will not deny that this is one of those events that will remain in your memory for a long time. It is no coincidence that he bears the most famous Russian name in the world and one of the most common surnames in Russia. There is some secret meaning in it ...
In the work of Ivan Smirnov, permeated with a truly Russian musical sensation, a variety of musical forms and styles are harmoniously combined. Bright and original, having no direct analogues in the world, Ivan's music absorbed elements of traditional Russian folklore, Celtic music, flamenco, as well as various modern and classical music. The expanded form of musical works in combination with improvisations, the energy of rock music and, at the same time, “romance”, jazz and blues intonations, some techniques of avant-garde music - all this creates a unique “ethno-fusion” style, characterizing the artist himself as a true master working at the junction of music genres.
Someone will say: "A lot of guitarists!". And it will be wrong. For some time now, Ivan Smirnov has been number one among his most distinguished colleagues. His work is already being talked about all over the world, an example of this is even the concert held here in the Emirates. Various musicians, including such world-famous celebrities as Al Di Miola and Alan Holdsworth, familiar with the work of the Russian guitarist, recognize his undoubted skill and uniqueness of musical thinking. He doesn’t just hear music, as many people probably can ... He knows what acoustic magic of sound is, he has the gift of unity with music. And this is from God.
What the musicians from his group are doing is generally difficult to describe in words. Sergei Klevensky seems to be able to play all wind instruments - from the simplest pipes and pity to the bassoons and clarinets at the same time. Mikhail Smirnov imperceptibly weaves noise effects and unique rhythms into compositions so that, it seems, now you will be carried away somewhere far away after the melody. Ivan Smirnov, Jr., by searching through his acoustic guitar, gives depth to masterfully performed works. And if you think that you do not know a sense of harmony, listen to the game of these musicians. Their tools will tell you everything.
Speaking about the concert of Ivan Smirnov, the announcer of the State TV and Radio Company said: "The guitar of Ivan Smirnov is more than an orchestra." Leaving the hospitable One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel, flooded with evening lights, I understood with absolute clarity what he had in mind ...
/ Elena Olkhovskaya /
