Airat Ichmouratov

“Airat is a communicator in the best sense of the word. His music immediately grabs the listener, and a journey starts: storytelling, landscapes, emotions... It is precious to have such music in our world today."  

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

The music of award-winning  Canadian composer Airat Ichmouratov has been performed at concert halls such as Wiener Musikverein, Konzerthaus Berlin, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Tonhalle Zürich, Sydney Opera House,  The Montreal Symphony House by a wide range of ensembles and musicians in countries around the world, including  Maxim Vengerov,  Robert Langevin,  Yannick Nézet-Séguin  &  Orchestre Métropolitain, London Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra "Moscow Virtuosi",  Yuli Turovsky  &  I Musici de Montreal,  Alexander Gilman &  LGT Young Soloists,  Israeli Soloists Chamber Orchestra,  Quebec Symphony Orchestra,  Symphony Orchestra of India, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, "Amadeus" Chamber Orchestra of Polish Radio, Chamber orchestra "Les Violons du Roy",  Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra just to name a few.  Versatile in form and style, Ichmouratov’s compositions were recorded on Chandos, Warner Classics, Analekta, Atma Classique, and Hedone Records.

   Holding two Master's degrees - in interpretation (clarinet) and composition, and also a Ph.D. in orchestra conducting from the University of Montreal, Airat Ichmouratov has frequently been invited as the guest conductor with numerous orchestras around the world.  Mr. Ichmouratov served as Conductor in Residence of  "Les Violons du Roy" (2007-2009), Quebec Symphony Orchestra (2009-2012), and Longueuil Symphony Orchestra (2018-2021). In August 2011, Mr. Ichmouratov conducted I Music de Montreal on tour in USA, Brazil, and Peru. In October 2011 he made his debut with Tatarstan Academic State Opera and Ballet Theatre and was immediately re-invited to conduct Puccini’s Turandot and Verdi's Rigoletto during the 2012-13 season and on the following European Tour.  

   Born in Kazan, Tatarstan, Airat Ichmouratov studied clarinet at the Kazan State Conservatory. In 1993, when he was appointed as Associate clarinetist of the Tatarstan’s Opera and Ballet Theatre, and of the Kazan State Symphony Orchestra, he began to extensively tour Europe. In 2000, after immigrating to Canada he founded the Muczynski Trio, which won 1st prize and the Grand Award at the National Music Festival (Canada, 2002) and 1st Prize at the 8th International Chamber Music Competition in Krakow (Poland, 2004). The Trio has also recorded for CBC and has given performances in Canada, China, Russia, and Europe.

   In 2000, Mr. Ichmouratov joined the klezmer group Kleztory, in which he plays the clarinet, composes, and arranges.  In 2012 Kleztory won The Klezmer Furth Prize at the International Klezmer Festival and Competition in Amsterdam and as a result appeared at Furth Klezmer Festival during the following spring. With Kleztory, Mr. Ichmouratov has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, I Musici de Montreal, Les Violons du Roy, Brussels Chamber Orchestra, given in a total of over 1000 concerts in 20 countries.

   On October 21, 2020, Airat Ichmouratov received Charles Biddle Award. This honor, given by the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration and "Culture pour tous" highlights the contributions of immigrants to Quebec whose personal and professional commitment contributes to the province’s cultural and artistic development.  

   Airat Ichmouratov's most recent composition – the neo-romantic opera “The Man who laughs” after Victor Hugo's novel of the same name, a commission from Festival Classica, was premiered in Montreal in the spring of 2023 under the baton of the composer.