Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

Russia

Birth

:

July 6, 1937 in Gorki, Russia

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

Vladimir Ashkenazy is a renowned classical pianist and conductor who was born on July 6, 1937, in Gorky, Soviet Union (now Nizhny Novgorod, Russia). He was born into a family of musicians, and his father was a professional pianist. Ashkenazy began playing the piano at the age of six and showed exceptional talent from an early age. In 1955, Ashkenazy won first prize in the prestigious Chopin Competition in Warsaw, which launched his international career. He went on to win several other competitions, including the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels in 1956 and the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1962. Ashkenazy's career as a concert pianist took off in the 1960s, and he quickly became known for his virtuosic performances of the works of Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev. He also gained a reputation as a sensitive interpreter of the works of Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. In addition to his career as a pianist, Ashkenazy also began conducting in the 1970s. He served as the principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London from 1987 to 1994 and has also conducted many other major orchestras around the world. One of Ashkenazy's most notable performances was his 1978 recording of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the London Symphony Orchestra, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest recordings of the work. He has also recorded many other works by Rachmaninoff, as well as works by Chopin, Beethoven, and other composers. Ashkenazy has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including honorary doctorates from several universities and the Order of the British Empire. He was also awarded the prestigious Praemium Imperiale award in 2015 for his contributions to the arts. In addition to his performing and conducting career, Ashkenazy has also been active as a teacher and mentor to young musicians. He has served as a professor at the Royal College of Music in London and has also taught at the Juilliard School in New York and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Overall, Vladimir Ashkenazy is a highly respected and influential figure in the world of classical music, known for his virtuosic performances, sensitive interpretations, and dedication to the art form.

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