KARINA IZMAILOVA

PIANO

It seems to me that music foster a spirit like any art. It teaches to empathize, to see the magnificence.

1.  What slogan would represent you and your art the most?

 - I suppose it would be “from Origins to Future”. I began studying music at 4, and I am a fourth generation musician. My Great-grandfather Akhmet Zhubanov and Grandmother Gaziza Zhubanova are Composers, Grandfather Azerbaijan Mambetov is a Director. Both parents are pianists, Honored Workers of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Nurlan Izmailov and Dina Mambetova. From a very young age I performed the music of my Great-grandfather and Grandmother participated in concerts and events dedicated to my ancestors. Being a first year student at the Moscow Conservatory, I organized Gaziza Zhubanova Commemoration Meeting in Moscow, and later gave lectures about their life and work many times. I had the honor to perform Gaziza Zhubanova's Piano Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. It was a very joyful and memorable day for me, because once upon a time she had recital in this hall. Unfortunately, three years ago my dear uncle, composer Alibi Mambetov-Zhubanov passed away. I organized and participated in the concerts dedicated to his memory and played his works...

I always try to cherish heritage of my ancestors, who worked all their lives for the sake of other people, for the sake of art. They were not interested in vanity of the world, wealth. They always were on the ball.

At the same time, you need to look forward to future and continue to contribute to culture. I compose, give concerts, and also perform own works. One of my most popular compositions is Akhmet Zhubanov’s Fantasy of “Karlygash” (“Swallow”)”. I tried to renew this famous melody through the prism of modernity, reflect and put my sense and emotions into it... I hope it was successful. When I thought about my motto, this phrase came to my mind due to the abovementioned. We must sacredly cherish our roots, our richest folklore, and at the same time look into the distance, try to give all the best to present and future generations.

​

2. What do you value the most in music?

 - One of my favorite quotes is Music is love in search of a word by Sydney Lanier, American Poet and Musician. What I appreciate in music is that you can express unspeakable; show whatever, even the most complex and ambivalent feelings; appear to be wherever as one desires – on the ocean shore, above beauteous clouds, in the great steppe, on the top of mountains, among dizzying skyscrapers and under the starry heaven... This is a unique language that any person can understand, and thus we, musicians, can speak with the whole world and know that we will definitely be understood. We are even able to appreciate a composer who wrote his composition long before our birth. And we can devote our individual feelings into music.  In other words, music is like a code, a certain intangible, mysterious energy. Just imagine slight sweeping produces a sound. But why do all these sounds so affect a person? Why can music heal mental wounds? Perhaps, they are right when they say that music is so structured according to the principle of the universe. It reflects all edges of life and existence just like the world. 

​

3. Many musicians say that they get to know themselves more and open own new talents because of your art…How the music influenced you?

- It seems to me that music foster a spirit like any art. It teaches to empathize, to see the magnificence. And of course, daily activities from early childhood exercise diligence and patience; will and character. Music influenced me in all these aspects too. It seems to me that there is still a certain stereotype that music is an easy activity. It may be outlined like: A man was born and he was gifted with prodigious abilities. He touched the keys or strings then began to play and the whole world rang with applause, and the curtain falls. But life is not a movie. There is a huge work even behind the brightest talent. Many things depend on the circumstances, luck, temper and other things. Therefore I can say that every true musician is a superhero.

​

4. What does music mean to you?

 - Music is Magic. It is one of the main wonders of our life. And, as I said before, music allows expressing without words, making journeys through time and space. It is also an opportunity to express yourself, your inner world and tell people about something very important. 

​

5. Who are your idols?

 - I am not very keen on the word idol. In my opinion, it seems like something arrogant. Each person is unique.  When someone say idol, it is generally considered that a person is ready to lose himself for the sake of another person. Most of all, he even may not be familiar with the real person, his feelings and fears, his ups and downs... But still, there are many people whom I sincerely admire, and I would rather say this: this person is an inspiration for me, my guiding star. For example, I even can be inspired by art character. And heroes are not always supermen from TV screens. As the last year has shown, doctors, nurses, drivers, couriers and many other people are also Heroes who, day after day, do their duty no matter what.

​

6. If you weren't a musician, what would you be?

 - I have been writing poetry since my childhood, I like to draw. I am also fond of photography and dancing. In my youth I thought that I could probably be a journalist, because I like to be in the thick of events; I can write articles and I like shooting... And I also dream about traveling around the world, communicating with different people, discovering new things... I hope all my favorite activities can be holding together with my main musical profession. That’s about what I am trying to deal with.  

​

7. Do you think that musicians have all opportunities to become popular and successful in Kazakhstan (on globally)? Why?

 - I would very much like to answer simply YES to this question ... There are certainly opportunities, but not everyone is given a chance to use these opportunities. In addition, many musicians are still far from things like promotion, advertising, etc. I know many incredibly gifted musicians, one might even say brilliant of all ages who just live an ordinary life, do not perform, sometimes even work outside their specialty. This is the reality of our world. Of course, I don't want to put up with this state of affairs, and I sincerely rejoice every time I see news about the activities of such wonderful funds as Art Mirai. In the future, if I have the opportunity, I would like to found an organization that will help children and young people, for example, from disadvantaged families or those with financial difficulties, develop their talent, and support them in everything so that they can learn and improve. ... I think that if a person is gifted with a talent from God, then he is simply obliged to develop it and share his art with people.

​

8. What is the ideal life for you as a musician?

 - I suppose there is not ideal life, and its contradictions are reflected in music. But for me, as a human and a musician, real life is a life full of interesting, vivid events. Opportunity to contemplate and admire the beauty of the world and see miracles in every tiny flower. Even in cloudy weather, rejoice and smile, jump, run and laugh, as little children do. Be next to your dear and close ones. And give the world all the best and most beautiful that is in your heart via own creativity.