Vassily Primakov
Encyclopedia
Vassily Primakov is an award-winning Russia
n concert pianist
and recording artist known for his interpretations of Chopin.
. He then attended the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara and the Juilliard School
in New York, where he studied under Jerome Lowenthal
.
, and in 2001 he was a semi-finalist in the Van Cliburn Competition
. Upon hearing Primakov’s performance of “La Valse” at the competition, Van Cliburn
himself said “Prodigious technique, really wonderful,” with a “look of sheer rapture on his face.” Primakov then won both the Silver Medal and Audience Prize at the 2002 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition
. In 2007 he was honored by the Classical Recording Foundation with their Young Artist of the Year Award. His disc of 21 Mazurkas by Chopin was named a "Best of Year" by National Public Radio (2009).
MusicWeb-International called his recording of Chopin Piano Concertos “one of the great Chopin recordings of recent times. Primakov's interpretations of the two Chopin piano concertos combine grace and fire in the service of unflagging intensity. These are performances of extraordinary power and beauty.” And Gramophone wrote “Primakov's empathy with Chopin's spirit could hardly be more complete.” Regarding his CD of Chopin Mazurkas, Fanfare
wrote “Primakov has made a Chopin recording everyone should hear.”
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n concert pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and recording artist known for his interpretations of Chopin.
Education
Primakov began studies at Moscow’s Central Special Music School at age eleven as a pupil of Vera GornostayevaVera Gornostayeva
Vera Gornostayeva is a Russian pianist and pedagogue.Emeritus Artist of the Russian Federation, Gornostaeva is a graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where her teacher was the legendary Heinrich Neuhaus....
. He then attended the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara and the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in New York, where he studied under Jerome Lowenthal
Jerome Lowenthal
Jerome Lowenthal is an American classical pianist. He is a professor of piano at the Juilliard School in New York, where he was also chair of the piano department. Additionally, Lowenthal is on the faculty at Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California.He made his debut at 13 with the...
.
Performing career
In 1999 Primakov won second prize at the Cleveland International Piano CompetitionCleveland International Piano Competition
The Cleveland International Piano Competition takes place biennially in Cleveland, Ohio. The initial Competition in 1975 and the nine others that followed were sponsored jointly by the Robert Casadesus Society and the Cleveland Institute of Music to honor the memory of French pianist Robert...
, and in 2001 he was a semi-finalist in the Van Cliburn Competition
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was first held in 1962 in Fort Worth, Texas and is hosted by Van Cliburn Foundation. It was created by Fort Worth area teachers in honor of Van Cliburn, who had won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition four years prior with Tchaikovsky's...
. Upon hearing Primakov’s performance of “La Valse” at the competition, Van Cliburn
Van Cliburn
Harvey Lavan "Van" Cliburn Jr. is an American pianist who achieved worldwide recognition in 1958 at age 23, when he won the first quadrennial International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, at the height of the Cold War....
himself said “Prodigious technique, really wonderful,” with a “look of sheer rapture on his face.” Primakov then won both the Silver Medal and Audience Prize at the 2002 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition
Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition
The Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition is based in Salt Lake City, Utah and is the second largest piano competition in the United States....
. In 2007 he was honored by the Classical Recording Foundation with their Young Artist of the Year Award. His disc of 21 Mazurkas by Chopin was named a "Best of Year" by National Public Radio (2009).
Discography
He has released fifteen CDs and one DVD.- Frédéric Chopin: Solo Piano Works (2004, Tavros)
- Beethoven: Sonatas Opp. 57 "Appassionata", 14/1, 111 (2008, Bridge)
- Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (2008, Bridge)
- Chopin: 21 Mazurkas (2009, Bridge)
- Tchaikovsky: Grand Sonata, Op. 37; "The Seasons" Op. 37b (2009, Bridge)
- Schumann: Kreisleriana; Carnaval; Arabeske (2009, Bridge)
- Dvorák: Piano Concerto, Op. 33; Poetic Tone Pictures, Op. 85 (2009, Bridge)
- Schubert: 26 Waltzes; 13 Laendler, 4 Impromptus, Op. 90; Impromptus Nos 1 & 2, Op. 142 (2010, Bridge)
- Brahms: 3 Intermezzos, Op. 117; Chopin: Four Ballades; Scriabin: Sonata No. 4 (DVD, 2010, Bridge)
- Mozart: Piano Concertos: No. 24, K. 491; No. 25, K. 503; No. 26, K. 537; No. 27, K. 595 (2010, Bridge) (2 CD set)
- "Primakov in Concert, Vol. 1" Brahms, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff; (2010, Bridge)
- Poul Ruders: Piano Concerto No. 2 (Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Sondergard) (2011, Bridge)
- Mozart Piano Concertos: No. 11, K. 413; No. 20, K. 466; No. 21, K. 467 (Odense SO, Gaudenz) (2011, Bridge)
- Rachmaninoff Recital: Preludes and Elegie from op.3, 23 & 32; Corelli Variations op.42 (2011, Bridge)
- Arlene Sierra: "Birds and Insects, Book 1"; (2011, Bridge)
- "Primakov in Concert, Vol. 2" Mendelssohn, J.S. Bach, P. Glass, Debussy (2011, Bridge)
MusicWeb-International called his recording of Chopin Piano Concertos “one of the great Chopin recordings of recent times. Primakov's interpretations of the two Chopin piano concertos combine grace and fire in the service of unflagging intensity. These are performances of extraordinary power and beauty.” And Gramophone wrote “Primakov's empathy with Chopin's spirit could hardly be more complete.” Regarding his CD of Chopin Mazurkas, Fanfare
Fanfare Magazine
Fanfare is a magazine devoted to reviewing classical music performance and recordings.Fanfare's contributors have a range of expertise from the medieval to contemporary work...
wrote “Primakov has made a Chopin recording everyone should hear.”