music for theater and cinema

official site of composer ivan volkov

IVAN VOLKOV

actor, composer

Born in 1974 in Leningrad, Russia. He studied at the Music Choral School (name of M.I.Glinka). In 1997 he graduated from RATI (GITIS). He composes music for theatre, series and feature films.

List of works:

2003 — feature film "Modern style game"

2005 — feature film "Full"

2008 — series "Big game"

2011 — series "No room for error"

2011 — series "Cupid"

2012 — performance «Ksenia St. Petersburg», RAMT, Moscow

2012 — performance «Princess Turandot», theatre name of I.А.Goncharov, Ulyanovsk

2014 — performance «The Old Lady Sits Waiting», Alexandrinsky theatre, Saint Petersbourg

2015 — performance «Phoenix bird returns home», drama theatre, Noginsk

2015 — performance «Crow», Alexandrinsky theatre, Saint Petersbourg

2016 — performance «Rabbit Edward», RAMT, Moscow

2017 — performance «Bain», new stage of Alexandrinsky theatre, Saint Petersbourg

2017 — performance «Murder of Jean Paul Marat», Alexandrinsky theatre, Saint Petersbourg

2017 — performance «Rhinoceroses», youth theatre, Saint Petersbourg

2017 — performance «Le Troiane», Teatro Stabile di Napoli with Alexandrinsky theatre

2017 — performance «The last father», youth theatre name of J.P.Kiselev, Saratov

2018 — performance «Fourth hero», RAMT, Moscow

2018 — performance «Cyrano de Bergerac», Alexandrinsky theatre, Saint Petersbourg

2019 — performance «Manyunya», RAMT, Moscow

2019 — performance «Children in power», Alexandrinsky theatre, Saint Petersbourg

2019 — performance «The tempest», youth theatre name of J.P.Kiselev, Saratov

2019 — performance «Bain» vers.2, Alexandrinsky theatre, Saint Petersbourg

2021 — performance «Kids of the sun», Alexandrinsky theatre, Saint Petersbourg

2021 — series «Woman in divorce», director О.Saphronova, film company «Shuka»

2021 — series «Son», director Ph.Pharkhshatova, «Tim films»

2022 — performance «The Cherry orchard », theatre name of Lensoveta, Saint Petersbourg

2022 — feature film «Petropolis», director V.Phokin, «Revolution film», «Interfest»

2022 — series «God compex», director Ph.Pharkhshatova, «KION», «Lookfilm»

2022 — performance «Othello», Alexandrinsky theatre, Saint Petersbourg

2023 — performance «Wood», youth theatre, Saint Petersbourg

EXTRACTS FROM INTERVIEW

"Teatral", "Ramtograph".

— Why music?

— As for the craft of composing in terms of designing performances, it still has more connections with my acting profession: anyway, you are in dialogue with the director, and you use actor’s analysis, make suggestions at the stage of working with the play: where does the music come from, what is it like, this is music from the character’s point of view or from the author’s point of view, etc. What is very interesting here is the applied work, as they say, interaction with the workshops, with the production part. This supported me very much and still supports me to this day - both creatively and financially.

— In playbills often indicate that either a composer or a musical designer worked on the music. What is the difference?

— I don't think I have the right to call myself a composer. A composer is a full-fledged author, a person who embodies his thoughts and ideas through music. As a writer. Music and literature even have similar terminology: two-part, three-part form, sentence, quote. In theater or cinema, I am not the author, I am part of the production group. I don't tell my own story, but mostly work for the author of the play. And I would call my work on the play sound engineering. Because for me, the important part is, in addition to the music, the noises, the sounds of the stage, the way the artists speak, because this is also part of the performance for which I consider myself responsible.

— The illustrative nature of music is perhaps its simplest function in a performance. But often it’s boring and insipid. How to avoid this?

— It all depends on the director, his taste and preferences. I can only recommend what things not to do. I do no like it when the music doubles too literally what the director is trying to do. This often happens in our TV series: in love scenes the musical accompaniment is too sweet. This is distrust of the viewer and fear of silence. I love silence more. It sometimes sounds deeper than the sound underscore. Sometimes they try to cover up a not very strong scene with music, and the illusion is created that something is happening. But remove it - and all the problems will immediately come out.

Video fragments

«KION», «Lookfilm»

Series title credits "GOD COMPLEX"

Director: Phlusa Pharkhshatova

KION, movie company «Shuka»

"WOMAN IN DIVORCE" episode from the series

Director: Olga Saphronova

«KION», «Lookfilm»

GOD COMPLEX
episode from the series

Director: Phlusa Pharkhshatova

The Trojan women/Le Troiane

vids of the performance and rehearsals

Talthybius song. Rehearsal

Talthybius: Leandro Amato

Cassandra song

Cassandra: Autilia Ranieri

Teatro Stabile (Napoli, Italy) and Aleksandrinsky theatre. Directors: N.Roschin, V.Fokin. Premiere - 2017

MUSIC

theme song from the play "WOOD"

Director: U. Bayaliev. Cello: E.Kadochnikova. Youth theatre Saint Petersbourg

theme song from the feature film "PETROPOLIS"

Director: V.Phokin. Lyrics: М.Lentsman. Vocal: А.Maskin. Guitar/bass: P.Suraev-Korolev, drums: E.Kharitonov. Mixing, mastering: I.Lukashev. «Revolution film», «Interfest»