Born in Narva, Estonia, in 1974, Andres Izmaylov comes from the third generation of a dynasty of harpists. His grandmother, Lidia Gordzevich , was an Honoured Artist of Russia. Having studied the harp at the Leningrad (now St Petersburg) Conservatoire with Nicolai Amosov, a pupil of Albert Zabel, she played in the Kirov Theatre and the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, teaching at the Leningrad Conservatoire where she taught many subsequently famous Russian harpists.

        His mother, Natalia Izmaylova, is principal harp of the National Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine, and an Honoured Artist of the Ukraine. His elder son, Artemy Ismaylov is a gifted harpist who carries on the family tradition. Artemy was a major prizewinner in the Wales International Competition held at Caernarvon in 2006. His younger son, Ilia, is a cellist.

        From the age of seven, Andres Ismaylov studied at the N.Lysenko specialist music school in Kiev, Ukraine, and from 1991-1996 he was a student at the National Academy of Music in the same city. Until 1988 he was taught by his mother but from the age of fourteen onwards he travelled regularly to Moscow where he participated in Masterclasses with the famous teacher, Milda Agazarian.        

        In 1993, aged only 19, he was appointed co-principal harp of the National Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine, and in 1995 he was appointed to the prestigious post of co-principal harp of the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, widely recognised, under its principal conductor, Yury Temirkanov, as one of the world's greatest orchestras. With the orchestra he has travelled all over Europe and as far afield as China, Japan, the USA, Canada and South America.

        In addition to his orchestral playing, Andres has undertaken many solo recitals in St Petersburg and Moscow and recently travelled to Sendaj (Japan). In July 2007 he was invited to Cardiff, Wales, where he gave three recitals during the European Harp Symposium, and in February 2008 he was invited to Teignmouth, Devon, to take part in the Elias Parish Alvars Festival, held to celebrate the bi-centenary of the birth of this most famous of harpist-composers.

        His involvement in the eNsemble project organised by St Petersburg's Pro Arte Institute has led to many performances of avant-garde and experimental music, and as soloist with orchestra he has played all the major harp concertos.

        Andres Izmaylov's reputation as a composer goes from strength to strength. He knows how to write for the harp in the most effective and approachable way, as no-one but a harpist-composer could do, and Adlais is proud to publish eight of his compositions in varied styles and at varied levels. His H-A-R-F-E, premiered in Moscow in 2005, and published by Adlais in February 2007, was the first of these. Subsequently, Adlais has published seven more, including the stunning 'Sonatka (in C)', the enchanting 'Concerto-Waltz, St Petersburg-Vienna', 'For Artemy', a set of pieces written for his young son, a 'Duo' for harp and violin, a duet for two harps entitled 'Toward the Sun', and in February 2008, 'Lullaby for Matilda' and a second Sonata, 'In ancient style' suitable for harpsichord as well as harp. "Lullaby and Chorus" from Tchaikowsky's opera Iolanta arranged for three harps by Andres Izmaylov was premiered by author, his son Artemy and Benjamin Creighton Griffiths at the 10th World Harp Congress, Amsterdam in July 2008 and published by Adlais in December 2008.

Ann Griffiths 2009