Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Russia

Birth

:

October 21, 1973 in Chelyabinsk, Russia

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Lera Auerbach is a Russian-American composer, pianist, and writer born on October 21, 1973, in Chelyabinsk, Russia. She was born into a family of musicians, and her father was a violinist and conductor. Auerbach began playing the piano at the age of four and started composing at the age of six. She was a child prodigy and gave her first public performance at the age of seven. Auerbach's family moved to Moscow when she was ten years old, and she continued her musical education at the Moscow Conservatory. She studied piano with Tatiana Nikolayeva and composition with Leonid Bobylev. Auerbach graduated from the conservatory with honors in both piano and composition in 1991, at the age of 17. After graduating from the Moscow Conservatory, Auerbach moved to the United States to continue her studies. She attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where she studied composition with Milton Babbitt and piano with Joseph Kalichstein. Auerbach received her Master of Music degree from Juilliard in 1995. Auerbach's compositions are known for their emotional intensity and technical virtuosity. She has written works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments, and voice. Her music has been performed by major orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Tokyo String Quartet. One of Auerbach's most famous works is her opera "The Blind," which premiered at the Lincoln Center Festival in New York City in 2013. The opera is based on a play by Maurice Maeterlinck and tells the story of a group of blind people who are stranded on an island. The opera is notable for its use of silence and darkness, as well as its haunting score. Another notable work by Auerbach is her Symphony No. 1, which was commissioned by the Staatskapelle Dresden and premiered in 2006. The symphony is a tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and is based on the poetry of Paul Celan. The work is divided into three movements, each of which represents a different aspect of the Holocaust. Auerbach has also written several works for solo piano, including her 24 Preludes for Piano, which were inspired by the preludes of Chopin and Shostakovich. The preludes are characterized by their emotional intensity and technical difficulty. In addition to her work as a composer, Auerbach is also an accomplished pianist. She has performed as a soloist with major orchestras around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Auerbach has also recorded several albums as a pianist, including a recording of her own piano music. Auerbach is also a prolific writer and has published several books in both Russian and English. Her books include a memoir, "Excess of Being," and a collection of poetry, "Infinite Compassion." Auerbach's writing often explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition. In recognition of her contributions to music and literature, Auerbach has received numerous awards and honors. She was awarded the prestigious Hindemith Prize in 2007 and was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2015. Auerbach has also been awarded the German National Prize for Art and Science and the Pushkin Medal by the Russian government. In conclusion, Lera Auerbach is a highly accomplished composer, pianist, and writer.

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