The requirements of what make a good conductor grow each day. It is not enough for one to be impeccably prepared, to be as flexible as possible, have good technique and vast knowledge before one stands in front of an orchestra. For a conductor to meet the expectations of today, one must be a fair interpreter to all historical styles, to shape an orchestral color based on such references and to deliver great results within the shortest possible time. The 21st century conductor must be able to learn fast, to search and find his own musical language aside from all historical legacies inherited. One must be able to adapt to the digital age and be an ambassador of classical music to wide audiences.
"Viktor Ilieff replaces star conductor briliantly. (...) encouraging lively tempo changes, with accurate handling of the complexed rhythmical ornamentation differences." - Westfalen Blatt 09.01.2011
Viktor Ilieff replaces star conductor briliantly. (...) encouraging lively tempo changes, with accurate handling of the complexed rhythmical ornamentation differences.
It was Enchanting to observe Ilieff in his conducting. (...) rich melodic passages were pouring out (...)
A very special musical event (...) On his Germany-wide tour in 2008 and 2009, it has already caused a lot of sensation and enthusiasm.
This was also primarily due to the high level of the orchestral playing, under the friendly, very precise and vivid direction of the conductor.
A spectacular finale of the good two-hour long program, which ended with encores and long applause.
Being a composer facing similar challenges can be of a significant advantage to understanding the intentions of each composer.
Each composition has its technical challenges. When they are recognized, one can learn by heart a work within a very short time.
We have nowadays unlimited access to music from Monteverdi to Sciarrino, which gives us a broad overview of the past and the future.
A few things can be as inspiring as the work with artists from different fields. Often, a discovery occurs when creativity and exchange meet.
To find an orchestral color suitable for each composition or phrase is an important task for many conductors. It is one of the means of expression that helps us to emphasize on the emotional characteristics of a musical passage. A single note played with warmer or cooler sound can transmit completely different message to the listener. This combined with articulation and tempo abbreviation, which is right for each conductor, helps us to re-live eternal music again and again, discovering something new each time as we steadily grow as musicians.
During a brief visit in his home country of Bulgaria to conduct Plovdiv Philharmonic, Viktor Ilieff received invitations from Bulgarian national television Channel 1 and Channel 2, to talk about his artistic merit, as well as his future projects and new opera Parsifal Incerto (Parsifal in doubt).