Performance style of A. Petrosyan chamber choir of NTU
Statement of the problem. The research paper focuses on revealing specific features of the performance style of A. Petrosyan Chamber Choir of NTU "KhPI". Kharkiv choral art is represented by a variety of ensembles — amateur and professional, educational and children’s, folk and church ones, forming a huge cultural stratum. In the context of art globalization their activity is distinguished not only by regional specificity and originality, but also by the protective function (in the broadest sense). The relevance of the topic is defined by the study of cultural trends of Kharkiv choral art of the past and present. Performing activity of amateur groups as a reflection of cultural and artistic intentions of the 21st century listeners is on the stage of new transformation, which requires scientific and theoretical reflection. The object of the research is the choral art in Kharkiv region; its subject is the performing activity of A. Petrosyan Chamber Choir of NTU "KhPI". The purpose of the article is to reveal the stylistic principles of the performing activity of A. Petrosyan Chamber Choir of NTU "KhPI" as a bearer of regional culture in the second half of the twentieth century. Analysis of the latest publications on the subject. The study of available sources dealing with choral studies (articles by N. Belik-Zolotareva [1], Y. Ivanova, V. Kutluyev [7], I. Korzhavykh [6], A. Laschenko [8], V. Rozhko [12], A. Savelyeva [13]) has revealed a lack of systematic information and in-depth evaluative characteristics of the selected concert ensemble. Statement of the basic material. The Chamber Choir of Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute was formed in 1950s. Its first leader was Alexander Polshin. This period is highlighted in the memoirs of L. B. Kazanovich [5]. In 1956 Vyacheslav S. Palkin, a first year student of the choral conducting department of Kharkiv Conservatory, headed the choir and worked with it until 1977. During this period the performance level of the choir rose to a qualitatively new level. he most active phase in the performing activity of the choir began in the 80’s with the appearance of a new leader Alexander Petrosyan, the honored art worker. Concert performances at the KhPI Palace of Students, participation in collaborative concerts of the city along with the leading ensembles of the Kharkiv Philharmonic, Kharkiv Opera and Ballet Theater, as well as recordings on Kharkiv Television and the All-Union Radio — are vivid indicators of the choir’s mastery and its leader’s skillfulness. The repertoire of the choir included works by I.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, G. Sviridov, G. Gershwin that were performed in the arrangement of A. Petrosyan. KhPI Choir under the direction of A. Petrosyan successfully presented its art at the All-Union Festival of Arts "Students’ Spring" in Leninakan (Armenia). From1983 to 1987, it participated in various festivals in the republics of the USSR, Poland, it also hosted choral ensembles from Georgia. In 1985 the choir received the title of the winner of the XII World Festival of Youth and Students, and in February 1987 it was awarded the title of the People’s Choir. From 1995 to 2008, the performing activity of the choir was suspended. The alumni of the choral conducting department of I.P. Kotlyarevsky KhNUA became the successors of the greats of the choral movement in Kharkiv. From 2008 to 2016 A. Petrosyan chamber choir was headed by Felix Sokol. With the emergence of the leader the choir not only "came alive", but also started performing widely, taking part in various festivals and contests, friendly meetings; it organized choir festivals of technical universities "Singing extravaganza". Continuing the performing traditions, laid by V.S. Palkin and A. Petrosyan, the current head of the choir Maxim Sidorov works in the same direction. Conclusions. The performance style of A. Petrosyan Chamber Choir of NTU "KhPI" is characterized by such principles as high academicism, richness of the repertoire, active performance practice as a factor of democratization and cultural development. The leading role in the formation of the creative ensemble’s style belongs to the choirmaster, who is the leader, the height to which the thoughts and souls of each participant of the choir rush. Perspective of the further development of the topic. The versatility of the material under study makes it possible to depict a "choral picture" of musical Slobozhanschina on the example of other vivid representatives of its cultural life: the Boys Choir of Kharkiv Music Specialized Boarding School, the "Amadeus" Boys Choir of W.A. Mozart children’s music school, the Church Choir of the Intercession (Pokrovsky) Monastery, the Academic Students Choir of Kharkiv State Academy of Culture.