Horns

Leonid Voznesensky

In the orchestra since 2015

Leonid Voznesensky is the Honoured Artist of Russia, a soloist-concertmaster of the musicAeterna Orchestra. He maintains an active concert career. He is a member of the International Horn Society (IHS), the official French horn endorser of Holton Conn-Selmer Corporation, a member of the jury at both international and national competitions. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, and the Medal of Merit for Culture and Art.

Leonid graduated from the Gnessin Moscow Secondary Special School (the class of Professor Alexander Ryabinin) and the Moscow Music and the Gnessin Musical Pedagogical Institute (presently, the Russian Academy of Music, the class of Boris Afanasyev), as well as postgraduate studies at the Moscow State Conservatory.

He worked at the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Opera and Ballet Theatre (1991-1993), the Moscow State Academic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Pavel Kogan (1993-1995), the Moscow Symphony Orchestra (1995-1996), the ‘Young Russia’ State Symphony Orchestra (1996-2002), the Svetlanov State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia (2002-2010), and the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia conducted by Vladimir Spivakov (2010-2015). Since 2015, he has been the soloist and concertmaster of the French horn group of the musicAeterna Orchestra.

He taught French horn classes at the Moscow State Conservatory, the Central Music School of the Moscow Conservatory, and the Igor Stravinsky Children’s Music School. He conducts master classes.

In 1998, he organized the M-Horn ensemble consisting of four French horns, a bass guitar, and percussion. In 2002, the ensemble won the Festos Youth and Student Competition in the ‘Autumn Jazz’ category.

HOW DIFFERENT DO REHEARSALS AND CONCERTS FEEL TO A MUSICIAN?

Rehearsals have a more relaxed vibe. Of course, concerts require maximum focus. At the concert, one should present the result of all the rehearsals.

HOW DO YOU GET READY TO PERFORM?

First of all, you need a good night’s sleep. And you should not drink coffee: before the concert, you feel nervous as is, and coffee will make your heart beat even faster. I think it is crucial to feel nervous: those who do not care cannot do great on stage. It should be a natural feeling of nervousness on stage. I have no special rituals as I am not superstitious. I do believe in God and have a small leather cross on my french horn. I make the sign of the cross and go up on stage.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL AFTER CONCERTS?

After concerts, I am super emotional. Sleeping is out of the question: I want to move and have fun. Even on the hardest day I feel as fit as a fiddle. After each concert, I feel life is only beginning.

WHAT ELSE CAN GIVE YOU SUCH STRONG EMOTIONS?

Fishing.

COULD YOU NAME THREE MUSICAL PIECES YOU CONSIDER THE PINNACLE OF MUSIC?

Speaking of the french horn, I would name all Mahler’s symphonies. They are very exciting and convenient to play on the french horn. The music itself is immaculate, too. Then, of course, comes Beethoven. And Wagner — his music is something otherworldly.