OLEH KRYSA, Violin

The Ukrainian-American violinist Oleh Krysa, long esteemed in the former USSR as a distinguished soloist, chamber musician and teacher, made his American debut in 1971 at Carnegie Hall with a performance that won glowing reviews from the critics. Heralded by the New York Times as “a  performance to make a violinist’s reputation had he come without one”. After an 18-year absence from the American concert stage, his appearances in 1990 at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center were again met with exceptional critic acclaim and confirmed his reputation as a master of his instrument.

            A prominent student of David Oistrakh, Oleh Krysa won major prizes in such international competitions as the Wieniawski, Tchaikovsky and Montreal, and was outright winner of the Paganini Competition. When he won first prize in the Paganini Competition, the local press speculated he must have been born with a violin in his hands.

            After completing his postgraduate work, Oleh Krysa began his teaching career as chairman of the Violin Department at the Kiev Conservatory. In 1973 he took the same position at the Gnesins Musical and Pedagogical Institute in Moscow and, two years later, returned to the Moscow Conservatory as Professor of Violin, where he remained until 1988. Currently he is Professor of Violin at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.

            Oleh Krysa has performed in major music centres throughout the world, with leading orchestras and conductors and ensembles. He has also appeared at major festivals in Russia (“Moscow Stars”), Czechoslovakia (“Prague Spring”), Poland (“Warsaw Autumn”), Austria (Wiener Fest, Lockenhaus), Germany (Schleswig-Holstein, Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart), Scotland (Edinburgh), Finland (Kuhmo, Korsholm), USA (Aspen Music Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, The Lake Winnipesaukee Music Festival, Park City International Chamber Music Festival, Peninsula Music Festival), Australia (Perth, Townsville) and New Zealand (Wellington). In addition to his thriving solo career, Oleh Krysa was leader of the celebrated Beethoven String Quartet 1977-87.

            Oleh Krysa is also a champion of contemporary music and has worked closely with Alfred Schnittke, Edison Denisov, Sofia Gubaidulina, Krzysztof Penderecki, Valentin Silvestrov, Myroslaw Skoryk, Virko Baley and Vyacheslav Artyomov. He has premiered a number of their works and many have been written specifically for him.

            He has recorded on the MELODIYA, BIS, TRITON, OLYMPIA, AMADIS, POLSKIE NAGRANIE, TNC and RUSSIAN DISC labels.

            Oleh Krysa is married to pianist Tatiana Tchekina who has been his partner in most of his recitals and recordings over the years.

             Mr. Krysa’s upcoming engagements include a concert tour this year of the USA, Canada, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Australia and Japan.

Concert and CD Review Excerpts

“During 30 years of my pedagogical work I haven’t encountered an individuality such as this. Oleh has brilliant natural gifts, unusual musicality, vivid artistry and great charm. Some of his performances have remained in my memory as examples of high artistic achievements.”

  David Oistrakh. “Sovietskaya Muzyka” 

“Mr. Krysa offers an elegant and focused tone. His technique is impeccable.”

The New York Times 

“This distinguished Ukrainian musician is a player who brings subtlety and calm elegance to every musical phrase.”

The Washington Post 

“Krysa demonstrated an exceptionally accurate and elegant technique and superb musical sensibility.”

Los Angeles Times

“A highly esteemed performer in the former Soviet Union, Oleh Krysa gave a charismatic and thoroughly compelling performance. ...Here Krysa demonstrated once again why he is held in such high regard, as he gave further voice to his extraordinary technical expertise, tackling monstrous feats with great composure.”

The Strad

“One can only admire the precise technical mastery and the depth of the violinist’s play.”

L’Unita, Italy

“High virtuoso qualities, elegance and delicacy of execution, brilliance of the left hand...”

Die Presse, Austria

“Mr. Krysa mastered the cliffs of Brahm’s Violin Concerto with extraordinary virtuosity and confidense.”

Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany

Bloch. Violin Concerto

“The playing of Oleh Krysa stands up to the utmost scrutiny. He displays profound musicianship in his thoughtful, passionate  and exciting performance, which combines an appropriate blend of poise and expressive intensity.”

                                                                                              The Strad

 “Both aesthetically and technically, this is the finest recorded performance to date-better even than Menuhin’s old recording.”

In Tune

Brahms. Violin Sonatas

“I want to begin this review by standing that Oleh Krysa is a great violinist. Now, I want you all to repeat his name 20 times and commit it to memory. “

Magil. “American Record Guide”

Gubaidulina.    “Offertorium”-Violin Concerto                                                                        

                        “Rejoice!”-Sonata for Violin and Cello                      

Both works have been recorded, although not coupled, by Gidon Kremer, but these are richer, darker, and less overtly virtuosic performances by Oleh Krysa are, in their more luxuriant way, just as compelling.”

Fanfare

Schnittke. Chamber Music

“The performances are consistantly excellent.                                                  

Gramophone