Viesturs Jansons is a Latvian conductor and pianist who has made a name for himself in the classical music world. Born on August 10, 1971, in Riga, Latvia, Jansons showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. He went on to study at the Emils Darzins Music School in Riga, where he received a solid foundation in classical music. Jansons continued his studies at the Latvian Academy of Music, where he focused on conducting. He also studied piano with renowned pianist and conductor Mikhail Pletnev. Jansons quickly established himself as a talented musician, and in 1994, he won the Grand Prix at the International Competition for Young Conductors in Besançon, France. After his win in Besançon, Jansons began to receive invitations to conduct orchestras around the world. He made his debut with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra in 1995 and went on to conduct many other orchestras, including the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. One of Jansons' most notable performances was his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 2003. He conducted a program of works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Shostakovich, and the performance was met with critical acclaim. Jansons went on to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic several more times, and he was named the orchestra's principal guest conductor in 2017. Jansons has also had a successful career as a pianist. He has performed as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2009, he released a recording of works by Chopin, Liszt, and Rachmaninoff, which received positive reviews. In addition to his work as a conductor and pianist, Jansons is also a respected music educator. He has taught at the Latvian Academy of Music and the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and he has given masterclasses around the world. Jansons has received many awards and honors throughout his career. In addition to his win at the International Competition for Young Conductors in Besançon, he has also won the Jāzeps Vītols International Conducting Competition in Latvia and the Antonio Pedrotti International Conducting Competition in Italy. He has been awarded the Order of the Three Stars, one of Latvia's highest honors, and he was named a Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 2018. Despite his many accomplishments, Jansons remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He is known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to bring out the best in the musicians he works with. He continues to perform and conduct around the world, and he is widely regarded as one of the most talented musicians of his generation.

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