Role

:

Ensemble

Country

:

Russia

Formed

:

August 18, 1940 in Leningrad, Russia

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

Dmitri Kitayenko is a renowned Russian conductor who has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. Born on August 18, 1940, in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia, Kitayenko showed an early interest in music and began studying piano at the age of five. He later went on to study conducting at the Leningrad Conservatory, where he was mentored by the legendary conductor Yevgeny Mravinsky. Kitayenko's career as a conductor began in 1965 when he was appointed as the principal conductor of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre. He quickly gained a reputation for his dynamic and expressive conducting style, and his ability to bring out the best in his musicians. In 1970, he was appointed as the principal conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he held for over a decade. During his tenure with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Kitayenko conducted numerous performances and recordings of works by Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Shostakovich. He also conducted the orchestra on several international tours, including a highly acclaimed tour of the United States in 1976. In 1980, Kitayenko was appointed as the principal conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway, a position he held until 1985. During his time with the orchestra, he helped to establish it as one of the leading orchestras in Scandinavia, and conducted numerous performances and recordings of works by Norwegian composers such as Grieg and Sibelius. In 1985, Kitayenko was appointed as the principal conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra in Germany, a position he held until 1990. During his time with the orchestra, he conducted numerous performances and recordings of works by German composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, and Wagner. In 1990, Kitayenko was appointed as the principal conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra for a second time, a position he held until 1996. During his second tenure with the orchestra, he conducted numerous performances and recordings of works by Russian composers such as Prokofiev and Shostakovich. In addition to his work with orchestras, Kitayenko has also conducted numerous opera productions, including productions of works by Mozart, Verdi, and Wagner. He has conducted at some of the world's leading opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Vienna State Opera. Throughout his career, Kitayenko has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. In 1995, he was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland by the Russian government, and in 2005, he was awarded the Order of Friendship by the President of Russia. He has also received numerous awards for his recordings, including the Grand Prix du Disque and the Diapason d'Or. Today, Kitayenko continues to be an active conductor, and is highly regarded for his interpretations of the works of Russian composers. He has conducted numerous performances and recordings with orchestras around the world, and is considered to be one of the leading conductors of his generation.

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