About the Recordings
Stephen Wood, Composer
Stephen Wood is a mostly self-taught composer whose musical education began at age 7 with piano lessons. His first serious compositions date from his teenage years, as his musical interests intensified. His other musical compositions include many chamber compositions and works for orchestra, including a symphony.
Konstantin Tjoulkine, Pianist
A laureate of many international piano competitions, Konstantinge Tjoulkine is currently a professor of piano at the Tchaikovsky College in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Born in 1979, in Berozovski, Russia, Mr. Tjoulkine began his studies at age 8, and won First Prize in the National Young Pianists Competition in Russia in 1998. He also was awarded First Prize at the "Europe-Asia" International Competition in Russia, 2004. He was educated at the Prestigious Mussorgsky Academy in Ekaterinburg, and has given piano recitals in Luxemburg, Naples, Paris, Moscow, and throughout Russia.
Maxim Paliy, Bass
The recipient of many international prizes and awards, since 2001 Maxim Paliy has been a soloist of the Ekaterinburg Opera, where he has performed important roles in the operas Don Giovanni, Macbeth, La Boheme, Carmen, and Eugene Onegin, to name but a few. Mr. Paliy was born in 1972 in Zaporozhye, Ukraine, and graduated form the Moscow State College Tchaikovsky vocal department in 1997. In 2000 he completed his post graduate degree at the St. Petersburg conservatory. He also was awarded a stipend by the President of Russia in 1996. Mr. Paliy has performed throughout Russia and Europe, and his repertoire includes many art songs in addition to his operatic roles.
String Quartet
The string quartet is performed by the Concord String Quartet, which consists of four young graduates of the Moussorgsky Conservatoire, Russia.