Vladimir Ashkenazy
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Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy (sometimes transliterated Ashkenazi) (Russian: Влади́мир Дави́дович А́шкенази) (born July 6, 1937) is a conductor and pianist. Born in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia to a Jewish father and a Russian Orthodox mother, he has been an Icelandic citizen since 1972.
Early years
Ashkenazy began his studies at the age of six and, showing prodigious talent, was accepted at the Central Music School at eight. A graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, he won second prize in the prestigious International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1955 and shared first prize in the 1962 International Tchaikovsky Competition.
Ashkenazy as pianist
Vladimir Ashkenazy is renowned for his performances of Romantic and Russian composers. He has recorded the complete 24 Preludes and Fugues of Shostakovich, Scriabin's sonatas, Chopin and Schumann's entire works for piano, Beethoven's piano sonatas, as well as the piano concertos of Mozart, Beethoven, Bartók, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninoff. He has also performed and recorded chamber music. He continues to record and perform internationally.
Ashkenazy as conductor
Midway through his pianistic career, Ashkenazy branched into conducting. He has particularly been praised for his recordings of orchestral works by Sibelius, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, and Scriabin.
He was the principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from 1987 to 1994, and was principal conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra from 1998 to 2003. He became musical director of the NHK Symphony Orchestra in 2004.
Besides these positions, Ashkenazy is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Conductor Laureate of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of the European Union Youth Orchestra, with whom he performs regularly.
An excellent resource covering Ashkenazy's musical philosophy and opinions on many other subjects is his Beyond Frontiers (New York: Atheneum, 1985), co-authored with his associate Jasper Parrott.
Awards and Recognitions
- Vladimir Ashkenazy is currently President of the [Rachmaninoff Society].
- Vladimir Ashkenazy, Lynn Harrell & Itzhak Perlman for Beethoven: The Complete Piano Trios (1988)
- Vladimir Ashkenazy, Lynn Harrell & Itzhak Perlman for Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in A Minor (1982)
- Itzhak Perlman & Vladimir Ashkenazy for Beethoven: Sonatas for Violin and Piano (1979)
Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra):
- Vladimir Ashkenazy for Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87 (2000)
- Vladimir Ashkenazy for Ravel: Gaspard de la Nuit; Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte; Valses Nobles et Sentimentales (1986)
External links
- http://www.philharmonia.spb.ru/persa/ashkenazi.html
- http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/thephilharmoniaorchestra/vladimirashkenazy/
- [An interview with Ashkenazy on Shostakovich]
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