ANNA MALIKOVA ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2019/2020 The project „Artist in Residence“ is sponsored by Youth in Usbekistan itself a second time. Therefore Anna boarded Each year in September the ARD a flight to Moscow in August 1979. Competition in Munich attracts crowds of young singers and instrumentaslists. The ARD Under the spell of a legend Competition is something like the Olympics of Lev Naumov was a legendary the international music scene. To be the pedagogue, who worked over a period of 50 winner here is something like knighthood: a years at Tchaikovsky Conservatory, he was a victory in Munich can open the doors to an personality of epochal rank. Unfortunately he international career. However, by tradition the could not at once take the newcomer from juries are very restrictive with first prizes – it Tashkent into his class: “I had to wait a whole happens more than often, that they are not year to enter his class”, as Anna Malikova awarded. In September 1993 the Usbek pianist recalls. “But after our first meeting it was clear Anna Malikova faces the international field of to me, that I would not study with anybody competitors. Round after round judges and else.” What made his teaching so special? audiences are enchanted – and by an “There were a lot of things. He was exceptional performance with Chopin’s e representing the great Russian school, being minor concerto in the final round she is able to himself student and assistant of Heinrich elicit from the jury the desired trophy. For 9 Neuhaus. Pianism was not the most important years after her no further 1st Prize was awarded. thing; Naumov knew the whole music history, Change of scene. Meerbusch near he could draw parallel lines with symphonic Dusseldorf, February 2019. Anna Malikova music and operas and, in doing so, created invited for the interview to her comfortable musical imagination”. Naumov had early given home. On the table: a rich selection of cakes. up his own performing activities, which proved The pianist’s husband offers oriental coffee to be very fortunate for his students: “I was from a copper can, with a smell of cinnamon; studying altogether 12 years with Naumov. he is a professional cellist and worked many There were never pauses like with other years as artistic director of one of the big piano professors, who went on long concert tours manufacturers. The list of questions stays and left their assistants continue the teaching. aside, instead Anna Malikova begins to chat But the most important thing was: he never relaxed about her youth in Tashkent in repeated himself. Even if I brought him a Usbekistan, about the severe system of music Chopin sonata 20 times, he always found new education in the former Soviet Union, about ideas and stimulation”. happy moments in the arts and problems of all After several years in Naumov’s class kinds in daily life. Anna Malikova was ready to take part in big Actually she wanted to become a international competitions. But for this the ballerina – among young girls not really a rare former Soviet Union had stringent wish for a profession. However her parents, requirements: the system selected in a number musicians themselves, had different ideas for of regional auditions until a few fortunate her future. Her mother told her cunningly, that contestants were found – and those were then she would first need to play the music before sent abroad, being provided all necessary being able dancing to it. The trick functioned: financial support. “It was a brutal selection. Anna began playing the piano, she liked it and You had to have your repertory ready half a made quick progress – and her ballet plans year in advance, in order to have a chance of were not further discussed. being sent”. Once young talents were discovered, Accordingly the pressure of the soviet system had a strong educational expectation was very high, which was heavy on grip on them – this also was the case in the the shoulders of the small selected group. Who former republics at the periphery of the union. came back without a prize would feel how it When Anna Malikova was only 14 years old, was to return without fulfilling big hopes. Who she got the chance to be accepted at Central on the other side was successful had chances Music School in Moscow, an elite institute for to be again on the squad – like Anna Malikova, talented children, which is attached to who was awarded prizes in Oslo (1988), Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Of course it was a Warsaw (1990) and Sydney (1992). However difficult step to leave the warmth of her family she always got only the 5th Prize – for the and change it for a life at the boarding school, young pianist it became over the years especially for a girl of 14 years. However it was something like a curse. an undeniable offer, which would not present From Moskva to Rhine A new life After the implosion of the Soviet After the victory in Munich the doors Union times of support by the government of concert halls worldwide were open to Anna came to an end, but also those of paternalism Malikova. However, together with big chances by the state. After the disintegration of the came heavy burdens. “I had to prepare a lot of soviet republics, the centrally organized repertory on short notice. I could not always competition tourism was over. 1993 Anna play what I wanted: one concert organizer Malikova went to Munich on her own – and wanted to have Chopin, another one succeeded in a glamorous way to break the Schubert”. On top of that was the pressure of “curse” of the fifth prizes. After this she forging the iron while it’s hot, as the big eventually decided to finish with competitions, competitions are all the time producing new “they were never really my thing”. prizewinners. After moving to the west Anna Malikova had already finished connections to her homeland were still in her studies with Lev Naumov before Munich, function for a while, but eventually they dried she was at the time working as assistant of her out: out of sight, out of mind. A natural great teacher and mentor at Tchaikovsky development. Conservatory. In earlier times her further path However, Anna Malikova was able to would have been determined: after several establish herself on European concert stages; years as assistant she would have been additionally she went frequently on tours to itassistant professor, received her own class the Americas and Asian countries. and eventually would have been appointed Furthermore she released a great number of professor. But with the change of times this CDs and is giving masterclasses all over the system became fragile. For Anna Malikova this world, passing her great knowledge and did not become apparent with her artistic work, traditions of the Russian piano school on to the however the overall economic situation next generation. However, Anna Malikova changed to the worse. “During my student could for years not really decide to take on a years you could buy everything in Moscow, permanent teaching position. “After the years which was however different in the republics. in Moscow I did not want to teach at a Sometimes I brought for instance shampoo or conservatory. If you do this seriously and even meat to Tashkent. But then, after 1991, honestly, you have to invest a lot of time, everything was suddenly different. There was which you can not use for practice. I can not nothing in the shops, the showcases were work very well under pressure or when I am empty. You had to line up hours to buy meat or tired”. But some time ago she changed her cheese. Now it was the contrary: my mother mind anyway: “Sometimes you meet very sent me food from Tashkent to Moscow”. talented young people in masterclasses and it The old structures of music life were is a special joy if you can help them. But then, still functioning for a while. Anna Malikova was if at all, you see them again only after a year or appointed member of the “Philharmony”, the so; this makes it difficult to efficiently give concert organisation of the Ministry of Culture, them direction. And then they are asking: which sent musicians everywhere and to the don’t you have somewhere your class? I began most remote places of Siberia. Anna Malikova to think, that with my performing experience I was still relatively well off, because of her good could possibly influence young pianists in a reputation and her position at the different way, compared to teachers who are conservatory – anyway better off than many not permanently on stage”. When at the others, who out of resignation left Russia. Her University of Music and Performing Arts in reasons to leave 1996 were not artistically Vienna there was a vacancy for a new motivated but personal: Anna Malikova professor, she gave it a try – and was successful. became friends with a sophisticated musician, In October 2018 she began with her teaching who through his work in the piano industry was position at the Austrian music metropolis. well connected to Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Lev Naumov gave his blessing: “Him you can marry, he is ok”. Anna Malikova broke down Unpretentious truthfulness her tents at Moskva river and followed her Anna Malikova is closely associated future husband to the Rhine. Of course she with Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra since took a photo of Naumov with her, whom she is their common tour to China in September worshipping like a father until today.