Born in Moscow to the composers Elena Firsova and Dmitri Smirnov, she moved to the UK in 1991.
In 2001 she won the BBC/Guardian/Proms Young Composer Competition with her piano piece “Les Pavots”.
She graduated from Purcell School as a composer and pianist in 2004, and Royal Academy of Music as a pianist in 2009, where she also developed her conducting studies with Paul Brough.
In 2009 she entered the Conducting Postgraduate Course in Royal Academy of Music under the tuition of Colin Metters.
Her solo piano debut CD “Russian Emigres” was released by the Vivat label. Alissa’s music is featured in a Proms Portrait on 27 August 2015, prior to the world premiere of her “Bergen’s Bonfire” by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Andrew Litton.
Tippett quartet and alissa firsova
Works
Op. 1, Les Pavots for solo piano
Op. 2, Strength Through Joy for symphony orchestra
Op. 3, Three Pieces for cello and piano
Op. 4, The Entire City for string quintet
Op. 5, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in heaven for wind and string ensemble
Op. 6, Rhapsody for solo violin
Op. 7, Lyrisches Stuck for viola and piano
Op. 8, Prophet for mixed chorus
Op. 9, Expressions for clarinet and piano
Op. 11, The Endless Corridor for piano
Op. 12, Birth of Remembrance for flute, clarinet, violin and cello
Op. 13, Lune Rouge for piano
Op. 14, Age of Reason for string quartet
Op. 15, Celebration for clarinet, flute, violin and cello
Op. 16, Tamaris for two cellos
Op. 17, Bluebells for piano solo, clarinet, horn, string quartet and percussion (3rd mov of Family Concerto, In memory of Dmitri Shostakovich – family project)
Op. 18, Paradiso for string quartet (3rd mov of “Divine Comedy” – family project)
Op. 19, Freedom (Clarinet Concerto)
Op. 20, Zhivago Songs to Boris Pasternak's poems for voice and piano
Op. 21, Moonlight over the Sea based on Munch's painting for solo violin
Op. 22, Chateau de Canisy for voice and piano
Op. 23, Souvenir Melancolique for clarinet and horn
Bach Allegro for large symphony orchestra (transcription of the 3rd mov of Bach's 3rd Viola da Gamba Sonata, BWV 1029). Proms Commission 2010.
Op. 24, Kubla Khan for tenor, bayan, violin and cello (5th movement of family project)
Op. 25, Gallo Variations for chamber orchestra
Op. 26, Unity for bass-baritone and piano
Op. 27, Serenade for Strings for string orchestra
Op. 28, Paradisi Gloria for SATB choir a cappella
Op. 29, Fantasy for cello and piano
Op. 30, Stabat Mater for SATB choir a cappella
Op. 31, Bergen’s Bonfire for Symphony Orchestra (Triple winds)
Op. 32, Tree of Hope for 4 Harps
Op. 33, Le Soleil de Conques for 2 solo cellos and string orchestra
