“To awaken of an artist in every musician”… : to the 120th anniversary of the birth of I. S. Shteiman
Authors: Kucher Liudmyla 
Published: March 2021

Problem statement. The article is dedicated to the 120th anniversary of famous Ukrainian conductor, Honored Artist of Ukraine, Professor Israel Solomonovich Shteiman (1901–1983), who devoted more than 55 years of his life to opera conducting. The musician is also famous by his skills in training of opera singersactors to their professional activity, as a head of Opera Studio under the Kharkiv I. P. Kotlyarevsky National University of Arts (former Kharkiv Conservatoire and the Kharkiv National University of Arts now). However, in addition to short lines of newspaper chronicles covering the theatrical life of Kharkiv city at that time, the brief background information collected in the archives of art institutions of the city and single memoir pages of his contemporaries (Shasha, 1991; Chepalov, 2012), there are still no special studies on the artist’s work. At the same time, these few sources provide an opportunity to recreate a holistic picture of I. S. Shteiman’s activities as a conductor of the Opera Studio under the Kharkiv National University of Arts and highlight one of the pages of its historical development, which is the goal of this article. The research methodology is based on the ways of analysis and systematization that were used in working with factual material; generalization and historical reconstruction when referring to opera productions by I. S. Shteiman in striving to characterize him as a musician-teacher. The results for discussion. In the period after II World War, many famous conductors worked in the Opera Studio under the Kharkiv Conservatory, but the activity of Israel Shteiman was the most fruitful, long and outstanding one. From 1944 until the end of his life, he was one of the leading conductors of M. Lysenko Kharkiv Opera and Ballet Theater. A characteristic feature of Shteiman-conductor was the ability to penetrate deeply into the composer’s creative concept, an impeccable sense of taste, an attentive and sensitive attitude towards the singer. Having started working at the Vocals Department of Kharkiv Conservatory in 1947, since 1953 I. S. Shteiman became the Opera Studio’s conductor, and from 1973 to 1979 – the Head of Opera Training Department at I. P. Kotlyarevsky Kharkov Institute of Arts. When working with students, I. S. Shteiman infected them with love for creative process, showed and knew how to emphasize the individuality in each of them. Among I. S. Shteiman’s students – Peopl’s Artists of the USSR N. Tkachenko, M. Manoilo, T. Alyoshina, People’s Artists of Ukraine and Russia V. Arkanova, L. Solyanik, L. Sergienko, Honored Artists of Ukraine V. Tryshyn, A. Rezilova, Y. Danilchishin... Since late 1960s, a new trend has emerged in the Opera Studio’s repertoire policy associated with growing interest in the creative work of contemporary composers. Thus, Studio productions of the operas by A. Nikolaev “At the Price of Life” (1967), A. Spadavecchia “The Road to Calvary” (1970), A. Kholminov’s “Optimistic Tragedy” (1972) were called to life by I. S. Shteiman. He believed that a deep disclosure of modern themes requires new thinking not only by composers, but also by singers, and it is crucial to develop this in young actors based on modern repertoire only. Continuing the course for revival of Soviet classics, to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Great Victory, I. S. Shteiman together with director L. Kukolev, staged V. Gubarenko’s opera “The Revived May”. The directors managed to reveal vividly all the strengths of the talented opera by this contemporary Ukrainian composer. Farther, the performers of the main parts were successfully working on various opera stages at Ukraine and abroad. Conductor I. S. Shteiman’s individual approach to working with each performer led to positive results – a high performance culture that ensured his performances’ long and successful life and high-quality professional training of singers-actors. From 1982, even after the stopping of his active conducting work, to the end of his life, Israel Shteiman was a professor-consultant at the Opera Training Department of the Kharkiv State Institute of Arts, continuing his life and creative mission – “to awaken of an artist in every musician”… (S. Kussevitsky). Conclusions. So, I. S. Shteiman dedicated practically all of his life to opera conducting. The memorable date is an occasion to analyze and appreciate his contribution to the very difficult and extremely important task of professional education of the opera singers, to pay tribute of respect and gratitude to this extraordinary man and musician. As one of the leading conductors of the Kharkiv M. Lysenko Opera and Ballet Theater, I. S. Shteiman had extensive experience of collaboration with prominent opera performers of his time. His conducting work was distinguished by a subtle understanding of the composer’s idea, a huge artistic taste. All these qualities were reflected in his fruitful work with student creative teams, which was always characterized by an individual approach to performers, by the ability to convey to them the will of the composer, as well as his own creative thought aimed at educating of high musical culture, by the ability to discover the artistry and creativity energy of the young musicians. Thus, the long-term conducting work by I. S. Shteiman played a huge positive role in the professional education of the brilliant constellation of the singersactors of the Kharkiv opera scene, in the formation of the tradition that opens wide creative prospects for graduates of the Kharkiv opera’s school also and in modern world music culture. The extraordinary personality of the talented conductor, who has educated more than one generation of singers-actors for work on the professional stage, will remain in the hearts of those who respected and loved him for a long time.