Valery
Vladimirovich Polekh is recognized as one of the
leading Soviet horn players and teachers of his
generation—an honored artist of the Russian
Soviet Republic, soloist of the orchestra of the
Bolshoi Theatre, virtuoso concert artist, laureate
of All-Soviet and international competitions,
performer on numerous recordings, and author of
pedagogical methods. His playing is described as
having its own characteristic signature: he sang
on his instrument in a vocal manner, without any
hint of strain or false sound spoiling the tone,
and he played with a lightness and mastery of
technical complexity. The author of many
magnificent pieces and exercises for the horn,
Polekh earned recognition as the best interpreter
of the horn miniature. His collections of
virtuosic songs in original settings for the horn
became classic, and his performance of them showed
his expressive talent. A musician of sophisticated
culture and artist of high renown, he devoted
himself to the service of Soviet art. His life’s
work is interconnected with the establishment and
development of Soviet musical culture, from his
supervision of instruction in the wind
instruments, to participation in All-Soviet and
international competitions, to his leading role in
the development of Soviet orchestral and solo wind
playing.
Valery Polekh was born on July 5, 1918, in
Moscow into the family of a civil servant. His
father, Vladimir Vasilievich and mother, Vera
Alekseevna were well educated, intelligent people,
familiar with classical and contemporary music and
worked with all their strength to ensure that it
would be an important part of the world of their
children. After gaining some experience on a
factory band (“Krazny Proletari”), he was
encouraged to go to music school and, in 1933,
Valery passed the entrance examinations of the
October Revolution Music School. There he studied
with the great hornist and soloist of the Bolshoi,
professor Vasily Nickolaevich Solodieuw. In 1935
Solodyev left the music school, and was eventually
replaced by Anton Aleksan-drovich Shetnikov, also
a member of the Bolshoi and who proved to be a
great help to Valery.
Valery’s first professional engagement began
in 1936 in the chamber theatre. Twice a year the
chamber theatre held special concert events, and
in one of these concerts that year, Valery gave
his solo debut, performing Glazunov’s Reveries.
In 1937, he was accepted to study at the Moscow
Conservatory with Ferdinand Eckert. A Czech by
nationality, Eckert had studied at the Paris
Conservatory and had been teaching in Moscow since
1905. In 1938, Eckert advised him to audition for
the first horn position with the radio orchestra.
Polekh played Eckert’s horn concerto, and was
chosen as an assistant to soloist A. I. Yusov.
Work in the symphony orchestra was interesting,
yet Polekh was drawn to the opera. At the
end of 1938, Valery successfully auditioned for
the orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre, joining a
section of such famous hornists as Solodyev,
Zuckermann, Shetnikov, and Aenov. In 1939, Valery
Vladimirovich began his compulsory service in the
Red Army and played in the Moscow army
headquarters symphony orchestra.
In March of 1941 Moscow hosted the All-Soviet
Union wind instrument solo competition. Valery
entered and played Haydn’s second concerto, a
fantasy by Eckert, and the Introduction, Theme,
and Variations on a theme by Weber by G. Gotvalda.
The result was first prize, and the beginning of
his outstanding reputation as a soloist. In 1949,
Polekh won first prize at another international
solo competition in Budapest. In 1951, he was the
inspiration for Gliere to write his Concerto, op.
91, and gave the first performance in Leningrad in
1952, conducted by Gliere himself. In 1963, he
recorded two Mozart concertos (K.417 and K.495)
and in 1965 gave the first performance of the
Britten Serenade in Russia at the Moscow
Conservatory. A supporter of the International
Horn Society, he attended and performed at the1979
IHS workshop in Los Angeles. Valery Polekh played
principal horn at Bolshoi Theatre Moscow for 34
years, and taught at at the Moscow Conservatory
beginning in 1981 where he shaped a whole
generation of Soviet horn players. He is also an
editor of an edition of the Mozart concertos and
in 1986 completed a horn method. The Advisory
Council of the International Horn Society is
pleased to recognize Valery Polekh’s
contributions to the horn world as a performer and
teacher. (compiled from information provided by
Valery Polekh and from
“Valery Polekh“ by Yriy Usov, translated by
Chris Stratton.)
