27 Facts About Airat Ichmouratov

Airat Ichmouratov is a founding member and clarinetist of award-winning Montreal-based klezmer group Kleztory and invited professor at Laval University in Quebec, Canada.

Airat Ichmouratov is a representative of a well-known Tatar theatrical dynasty.

Airat Ichmouratov's grandfather, Riza Fakhrutdinovich Ishmurat, was a playwright, public figure, publicist, and director.

Airat Ichmouratov was an Honored Artist of the RSFSR.

Airat Ichmouratov's grandmother, Rashida Abdulazyanovna Ziganshina, was an actress at the Galiaskar Kamal Tatar Academic Theatre, a public figure, playwright, and People's Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Russian Federation.

At the age of 7, Airat Ichmouratov initiated his musical education at Kazan Children's Music School No 3, named after Rostam Yaxin.

In 1997, Airat Ichmouratov went to Canada to participate as a student at Orford Art's Centre Festival, where he met renowned Soviet-born Canadian cellist, conductor and music educator Yuli Turovsky, whom Airat Ichmouratov considered a mentor and with whom collaborated on multiple occasions.

In 1998, Airat Ichmouratov permanently moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where he obtained a master's degree at the University of Montreal, and where he studied with Andre Moisan.

Airat Ichmouratov then founded the Muczynski Trio with Luo Di -Cello and Evgenia Kirjner on piano, which won 1st prize and the Grand Award at the National Music Festival and 1st Prize at the 8th International Chamber Music Competition in Krakow.

Airat Ichmouratov ultimately composed his first opus, a 45-minute-long String Quartet.

Airat Ichmouratov's first conducting job, after obtaining his doctorate degree in Orchestra Conducting at the University of Montreal, was with chamber orchestra Les Violons du Roy in Quebec City, where he was assistant conductor of specialist in Baroque and Classical repertoire, Canadian conductor Bernard Labadie.

Airat Ichmouratov was appointed resident conductor of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra from 2009 until 2011, where he assisted Israeli conductor and composer Yoav Talmi.

In 2011, replacing Yuli Turovsky at short notice, Airat Ichmouratov conducted I Musici de Montreal Chamber Orchestra on tour in USA, Brazil and Peru.

Airat Ichmouratov appeared as guest conductor with multiple orchestras around the world including Izmir State Symphony Orchestra, Free State Symphony Orchestra, Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Orchestre Metropolitain and Les Grand Ballets Canadiens.

In May 2022, Airat Ichmouratov conducted London Symphony Orchestra during the recording of his own Piano and Viola Concertos for Chandos Records.

Airat Ichmouratov is recognized for his style, which intricately weaves together the threads of Russian Romanticism, Tatar heritage, French Canadian folk, and the Jewish klezmer tradition.

Airat Ichmouratov's compositions reflect a diverse array of influences, with nods to Russian composers such as Shostakovich and Prokofiev.

In 2017, Airat Ichmouratov obtained his master's degree in music at the University of Montreal, specializing in Composition.

Airat Ichmouratov, having grown up in Russia, expressed his connection to this musical heritage.

Airat Ichmouratov holds admiration for German composers such as Mahler, Strauss, and Wagner, finding their compositions particularly inspiring.

Several reviewers stated Airat Ichmouratov's music is tonal, well orchestrated, often compared to the music of Khachaturian, Kalinnikov, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev.

Airat Ichmouratov has subtly modified this motif, introducing a minor third instead of a perfect fourth within the major seventh, marking its evolution and integration into various works such as the Three Viola Romances Op.

The introductory phrase of this doina plays a central role in the composition, acting as the fundamental musical motif from which Airat Ichmouratov develops the entire concerto.

However, certain compositions by Airat Ichmouratov have garnered diverse descriptions in reviews, ranging from being hailed as gorgeous and expressive to critiques pointing to moments perceived as boring and somewhat lacking in originality.

Airat Ichmouratov was named as Resident Composer 2012 at Concerts aux iles du Bic, in 2013 Composer of Summer at Orford Arts Centre and in 2015 Summer Composer at 17e edition of Festival Classique des Hautes-Laurentides.

Since 2010 Airat Ichmouratov is Associate Composer with Canadian Music Centre.

Airat Ichmouratov is married to violist and violinist Elvira Misbakhova, and they have two daughters.