Alexander Melnikov
Encyclopedia
Alexander Melnikov is a Russia
n pianist
.
Born in Moscow
, Melnikov began studying music at age six at Moscow’s Central Music School. He continued at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory
under Lev Naumov
, graduating in 1997. Later he completed his post-graduate studies in Munich
with Eliso Virsaladze
. He also studied with Andreas Staier
and Karl-Ulrich Schnabel at the Fondazione per il Pianoforte (Lago di Como, Italy
). While still at school he became a prize-winner of several major international piano competitions, including the Schumann Piano Competition in Zwickau
in 1989 and the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition
in Brussels
in 1991. He also began his international career shortly afterwards. Since the age of 15 he has participated in numerous International Music Festivals all over the world (Scleswig Hollstein, Vervier among many others).As a recitalist he appears in halls such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, the Alte Oper in Frankfurt and Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet etc. He has made concerto appearances with orchestras such as the Russian National, Tokyo Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Philadelphia (under Charles Dutoit), Rotterdam Philharmonic (under Valery Gergiev), Royal Concertgebouw, NHK Symphony and BBC Philharmonic.
Along with solo and orchestral appearances, chamber music
plays an important part in Melnikov's activities. Between 1993 and 2003 he performed with violin
ist Vadim Repin
, and he presently appears with violinist Isabelle Faust, cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras
. He appears regularly in piano duo appearances with Andreas Staier
, Boris Berezovsky
, and Alexei Lubimov
. Melnikov also maintained close artistic ties with Sviatoslav Richter
, who regularly invited him to participate in his festivals in Moscow (December Nights), and his chamber music festival in Grange du Meslay (Tours, France).
Since 2002 Melnikov has taught piano at the Royal Northern College of Music
in Manchester
, United Kingdom
.
Being an artist of "Harmonia mundi" he registered many CD's as soloist and chamber musician.
In addition, Melnikov’s second love is aviation
, and he is a qualified private pilot.
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 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:...
.
Born in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Melnikov began studying music at age six at Moscow’s Central Music School. He continued at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
under Lev Naumov
Lev Naumov
Lev Nikolayevich Naumov was a Russian classical pianist, composer and educator. Received a title of People's Artist of Russia and was nicknamed the "Godfather of the Russian piano school"....
, graduating in 1997. Later he completed his post-graduate studies in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
with Eliso Virsaladze
Eliso Virsaladze
Eliso Virsaladze is a Georgian pianist.She was born in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR. Her father Constantine Virsaladze was a prominent physician, so was her grandfather Spiridon Virsaladze. She received her first piano lessons at the age of 8 from her grandmother, Anastasia Virsaladze, a well-known music...
. He also studied with Andreas Staier
Andreas Staier
Andreas Staier is a German pianist and harpsichordist.-Life:Staier studied piano and harpsichord in the Hochschule für Musik in Hanover, with Kurt Bauer and Erika Haase for piano and from Lajos Rovatkay for harpsichord, and also in Amsterdam. From 1983 until 1986 he was the harpsichord soloist for...
and Karl-Ulrich Schnabel at the Fondazione per il Pianoforte (Lago di Como, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
). While still at school he became a prize-winner of several major international piano competitions, including the Schumann Piano Competition in Zwickau
Zwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
in 1989 and the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition
Queen Elisabeth Music Competition
The Queen Elisabeth Music Competition, a founding member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions has been, since its foundation, considered the world over to be one of the most prestigious and most difficult. It is devoted to violin , piano , to composition and to singing...
in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 1991. He also began his international career shortly afterwards. Since the age of 15 he has participated in numerous International Music Festivals all over the world (Scleswig Hollstein, Vervier among many others).As a recitalist he appears in halls such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, the Alte Oper in Frankfurt and Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet etc. He has made concerto appearances with orchestras such as the Russian National, Tokyo Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Philadelphia (under Charles Dutoit), Rotterdam Philharmonic (under Valery Gergiev), Royal Concertgebouw, NHK Symphony and BBC Philharmonic.
Along with solo and orchestral appearances, chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
plays an important part in Melnikov's activities. Between 1993 and 2003 he performed with violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist Vadim Repin
Vadim Repin
Vadim Repin is a Belgian Russian violinist who currently lives in Austria....
, and he presently appears with violinist Isabelle Faust, cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras
Jean-Guihen Queyras
Jean-Guihen Queyras is a French cellist. He was born in Canada and moved with his parents to Algeria when he was 5 years old; the family moved to France 3 years later. He is a professor at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart and artistic co-director of the Rencontres Musicales de Haute-Provence...
. He appears regularly in piano duo appearances with Andreas Staier
Andreas Staier
Andreas Staier is a German pianist and harpsichordist.-Life:Staier studied piano and harpsichord in the Hochschule für Musik in Hanover, with Kurt Bauer and Erika Haase for piano and from Lajos Rovatkay for harpsichord, and also in Amsterdam. From 1983 until 1986 he was the harpsichord soloist for...
, Boris Berezovsky
Boris Berezovsky (pianist)
- Biography :Berezovsky studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Eliso Virsaladze and privately with Alexander Satz. Following his London début at the Wigmore Hall in 1988, The Times described him as "an artist of exceptional promise, a player of dazzling virtuosity and formidable power."In May 2005...
, and Alexei Lubimov
Alexei Lubimov
Alexei Lubimov is a Russian pianist, fortepianist and harpsichordist.Alexei Lubimov studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Heinrich Neuhaus and Lew Naumov...
. Melnikov also maintained close artistic ties with Sviatoslav Richter
Sviatoslav Richter
Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter was a Soviet pianist well known for the depth of his interpretations, virtuoso technique, and vast repertoire. He is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.-Childhood:...
, who regularly invited him to participate in his festivals in Moscow (December Nights), and his chamber music festival in Grange du Meslay (Tours, France).
Since 2002 Melnikov has taught piano at the Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music
The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Being an artist of "Harmonia mundi" he registered many CD's as soloist and chamber musician.
In addition, Melnikov’s second love is aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
, and he is a qualified private pilot.
Awards
- Named Honoured Artist of Russian Federation (1999)
- 2000-2002 BBC Radio 3 New Generation ArtistBBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists schemeBBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme was devised by BBC Radio 3 Editor Adam Gatehouse and launched in 1999. It exists as part of the BBC's commitment to nurture young musical talent. Every autumn six to seven young artists who are beginning to make a mark on the national and international...
- Triumph (Russia) (2002,2008)
- Classics today (2005, 2006,2008,2009)
- Editor's Choice Gramophone (2006)
- Diapason d'Or (2007)
- Gramophone Critic's Choice (2009)
- BBC Music Choice award (2010)
- Choix France Musique (2010)
- Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (2010)
- Echo Klassik (2010)
- Choc de classica del'annee 2010
- Gramophone awards winner 2010
- Grammy nominated 2010
- BBC Music Magazine Awards 2011