According to the precepts of Rubinstein

The new rector of the Conservatory intends to delve into all issues

Elections of the rector were held at the Moscow Conservatory. Alexander Sokolov, as is known, who moved from rector to the post of Minister of Culture, was replaced by concert pianist, dean of the chamber ensemble faculty Tigran Alikhanov, nominated by the majority of conservatory departments. Alikhanov’s competitors were conductor Valery Polyansky and dean of the vocal faculty Pyotr Skusnichenko.

The election procedure took more than six hours. Of these, one and a half candidates presented their programs. Alikhanov, who spoke first, began his speech with a historical excursion - he recalled that Prokofiev and Shostakovich created true masterpieces while still being students at the conservatory. The main thing in the life of the Conservatory, according to Alikhanov, is creativity. Therefore, the rector must take part in all creative endeavors and delve into the achievements of each student. The applicant, not without irony, noted that in fifteen years of work at the Moscow Conservatory, he had only seen rectors at state exams twice - Alikhanov himself intends to attend them religiously. The rector must be accessible and should not be fenced off from colleagues and students by secretaries. The rector must delve into all areas of conservatory life (for example, during the urgently necessary reconstruction of a complex of buildings, constantly inspect the front of work). Alikhanov's speech touched on almost all the key problems that the Conservatory is currently facing - the creation of its own concert agency, the revival of the opera studio, equipping musicians with new instruments of proper quality, renovation of the dormitory and even the construction of a boarding house and residential building for employees. In conclusion, Alikhanov emphasized that he has students and concerts, but philharmonic activities will not become an obstacle in the performance of rector’s duties. (Perhaps this was an allusion to Valery Polyansky, who was busy leading the chapel.) When asked which of his predecessors Alikhanov intended to emulate, the applicant answered with the names of outstanding musicians-performers (from Rubinstein to Igumnov), who in different years headed the main musical training center of Russia.

Alikhanov’s opponents had practically nothing to add to his program. Hence the voting result (apparently due to the partial consensus that had developed during the nomination of candidates): Polyansky received 55 votes, Skusnichenko - 20, Alikhanov - 100.

Yulia BEDEROVA