by Mike Telin
Born in Stavropol, Russia, 12-year-old Elisey Mysin began studying piano at the age of four. He currently attends the Central Music School in Moscow where he is a student of Natalia Trull and Daniil Tsvetkov.
Mysin has already amassed several wins at international competitions including First Prize at the 2022, 4th Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians in China, and has performed concertos with the State Symphony Orchestra of Leningrad, and the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Mysin has appeared at many festivals including the Baikal Stars, InClassica International Music Festival (Dubai, UAE, 2021), and Bieszczady bez granic (Sanok, Poland, 2022, main prize of the festival).
On Saturday July 15, Mysin added another win to his list when he was awarded First Prize ($5,000) in the Junior Division of the Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists. He was also awarded the Audience Prize, Junior Division ($500) and shared the Mozart Prize (tie, $250 each) with Yanyan Bao (16, China).
I spoke to Elisey Mysin via Zoom last week.
Mike Telin: Good morning, it’s a pleasure to meet you, and congratulations.
Elisey Mysin: Thank you very much.
MT: It’s a big win: What were you thinking when you realized you had won?
EM: That is a very difficult question to answer because I cannot explain.
MT: But you were happy.
EM: Yes.
MT: I listened to all three of your rounds and I enjoyed them very much. Why did you choose the pieces for your first round?
EM: I chose the Mozart Sonata No. 7 in C major because I love Mozart. He is one of my favorite composers. And the Bunte Blätter because I also love Schumann. Before the first round of the Cleveland competition, I was in Dusseldorf and there I won the Schumann Competition. And I chose the Moszkowski/Volodos Etude because it is a very interesting piece. It is fast and difficult to play.
MT: Back to Mozart, what is it about him that you like so much?
EM: His music is very simple, but very difficult — it is very hard to play.
MT: And your Mendelssohn Trio No. 2 during the chamber music round was spectacular. Do you play a lot of chamber music?
EM: Not really. I just played the Beethoven Sonata No. 5 for violin and piano, but only the first movement.
MT: The Mendelssohn is a beautiful piece. Do you like Mendelssohn?
EM: Yes, I love it.
MT: Did you enjoy working with your colleagues from The Cleveland Orchestra, violinist Yun-Ting Lee and cellist Martha Baldwin.
EM: Yes, of course.
MT: Your concerto performance was stunning. Have you played a lot of concertos?
EM: Yes. I have already played five concertos by Mozart, Bach, and I also played the Ravel G Major Concerto.
MT: Wow! Why did you choose Mozart No. 23?
EM: It is one of my favorite concertos by Mozart.
MT: And you enjoyed working with Maestro Byess?
EM: Yes, he’s a wonderful conductor.
MT: Have you enjoyed being in Cleveland?
EM: Yes, of course. It is a very beautiful city, and the Museum of Art — I loved the Armor Court.
MT: Yes, the Armor Court is wonderful. Did you get to see the lake or travel around the city?
EM: Not really, because I needed to practice a lot.
MT: Yes, of course. And what are your plans for the rest of the summer?
EM: So today I will leave Cleveland and go to Fort Collins Colorado and there I will have a recital at The International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival. There I will play Mozart’s Sonata No. 7 in C major, then seven pieces from Bunte Blätta, two Waltzes and two Mazurkas by Chopin, and Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque.
MT: I cannot believe how much repertoire you have: Is it easy for you to memorize music?
EM: Memorize?
MT: To play without scores?
EM: For me it is easy. For example, this concerto by Mozart I have been playing for around two years. The first movement I learned in two weeks. And then in two weeks, I learned the second and third movements.
MT: You are a fast learner.
EM: Yes.
MT: I want to ask you about your dog: What kind of dog is it?
EM: So his name is Wolfgang, because of Mozart. He’s a gold dust Yorkie and I love him very much.
MT: I can tell. When will you see him again?
EM: Not until August.
MT: I’m sure he misses you as much as you miss him. Is there anybody that you would like to say hello to out in the world? Maybe your teacher?
EM: I think I want to say thank-you to everyone who participated in organizing this competition. I also want to thank my teachers, professors Natalia Trull and Daniil Tsvetkov.
MT: I’m sure they are very happy and very proud of you. Is there anything else you would like to tell me? If not, it has been a pleasure to meet you, and again, congratulations, and have safe travels to Fort Collins.
Published on ClevelandClassical.com July 26, 2023.
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