Varvara Ivanova

Concert Harpist

Presented in concert by
The Victor Salvi Foundation,
Lyon & Healy,
The Lyra Chapter of the American Harp Society &
Park University

For more information on the work of the Victor Salvi Foundation, click the logo below.

Praised by critics and audiences alike, seventeen year old Varvara Ivanova has already performed in major concert venues in Western Europe, Russia and Israel.

Following her London debut performance in Wigmore Hall with the London Chamber Orchestra conducted by Geoffrey Simon, British critic Edward Johnson wrote: "Ivanova demonstrated that she is a born virtuoso. Her sensitivity, beauty of sound and musicality captured the near-capacity audience ... one of the very few harpists who can simultaneously awe and charm." That performance took place in June 2003 and was co-sponsored by the Victor Salvi Foundation and Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation.

In November 2003, Varvara Ivanova won first prize at the prestigious International Harp Contest in Israel, and received the special award for her performance of Ami Ma'ayani's "Maqamat".

Ms. Ivanova was born into a family of musicians in Moscow and at the age of five began her studies at the Preparatory of Moscow Conservatory in the class of M.F. Maslennikova. A child prodigy, she had her first major performance of the Handel's "Concerto for harp and Orchestra B-dur" at the age of seven at the Big Concert Hall of the Moscow Conservatory with Kremlin Chamber Orchestra.

Throughout her emerging career, Varvara has been awarded major prizes in numerous harp competitions, including first prize at the Lily Laskine Harp Competition, Junior Division, in France and first prize at the Vera Dulova Harp Competition in Russia. She has also been awarded the highly-coveted scholarship from the Rostropovich Music Fund.

In November 2001, Ms. Ivanova replaced Xavier de Maistre, principal harpist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, on one week notice, on a tour in Germany as a soloist with the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra and performed to critical acclaim in Dusseldorf Tonhalle, Hamburg Musikhalle, Munchen Prinzeregentertheater and Frankfurt Alte Oper. A year later, she was a featured soloist at the World Harp Congress in Geneva, Switzerland.

Varvara has also performed as a soloist with other prestigious orchestras, including Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Primo Allegro Chamber Orchestra and the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra.

Ms. Ivanova is currently studying in the class of E.A. Moskvitina, while keeping a busy performing schedule. Recently, she performed solo and chamber music on a concert tour in Russia under the auspices of the Rostropovich Music Fund. She was invited to participate in the tour again in June 2005.

Other upcoming engagements include performances at Bemus Music Festival in Belgrade, Gstaat Music Festival in Switzerland, concerts in London, Paris and selected recitals in Italy.

Varvara is scheduled to present her New York debut at Merkin Hall and will perform a series of concerts in the United States in spring of 2005, presented by Victor Salvi Foundation. She will also release her debut recording on the Egan Records label in early 2005.