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Alexander Markovich Melnikov | |
|---|---|
Александр Маркович Мельников | |
| Born | 1973 (age 51–52) |
| Education | Moscow Conservatory |
| Occupation | Pianist |
Alexander Markovich Melnikov (Russian:Александр Маркович Мельников; born 1973) is a Russianpianist.
His grandmother was the Soviet pianist and composerZara Levina. Melnikov[1] graduated from theMoscow Conservatory underLev Naumov. His most formative musical moments inMoscow include his early encounter withSviatoslav Richter, who thereafter regularly invited him to festivals in Russia and France. He was awarded prizes at competitions as theRobert Schumann International Competition for Pianists and Singers inZwickau (1989) and theQueen Elisabeth Music Competition inBrussels (1991).
Known for his often-unusual musical and programmatic decisions, Melnikov discovered a career-long interest inhistorical performance practice at an early age. His major influences in this field include harpsichordistsAndreas Staier andAlexei Lubimov, with whom he collaborated on numerous projects. Melnikov performs regularly with period ensembles asConcerto Köln and theAkademie für Alte Musik Berlin.
Together with Staier, Melnikov developed a programme that contrasts excerpts from Bach'sWell-Tempered Clavier with Shostakovich's24 Preludes and Fugues. In chamber music, he has collaborated with cellists Alexander Rudin andJean-Guihen Queyras, and baritoneGeorg Nigl, among others.
As a soloist, Melnikov has performed with orchestras such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Philadelphia Orchestra, NDR Sinfonieorchester, HR-Sinfonieorchester, Russian National Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and the NHK Symphony, under conductors such as Mikhail Pletnev, Teodor Currentzis, Charles Dutoit, Paavo Järvi and Valery Gergiev.
Melnikov was the 2013/14 Artist-in-Residence at theMuziekgebouw in Amsterdam. This season began with Melnikov's debut at theBBC Proms with theWarsaw Philharmonic under Antoni Wit, followed by performances in the season-opening concerts of theCzech Philharmonic underJiří Bělohlávek. Further musical partners of the season include theMahler Chamber Orchestra,Freiburger Barockorchester,Amsterdam Sinfonietta,Seattle Symphony,Utah Symphony,Auckland Philharmonia andNew Zealand Symphony. Melnikov's solo engagements took him to such venues as theMaison symphonique de Montreal,Wigmore Hall in London,DeSingel in Antwerp and theMozarteum Salzburg, as well as to concert halls inOsaka,Nagoya andTokyo.
Melnikov's association with the labelHarmonia Mundi arose through his regular recital partner, violinistIsabelle Faust, and in 2010 their complete recording of the Beethoven sonatas for violin and piano won both a Gramophone Award and Germany's ECHO Klassik Prize. Their CD featuring chamber works of Weber was released in January 2013. In 2014, he joined withJean-Guihen Queyras in releasing an album ofBeethoven's complete works for cello and piano on theHarmonia Mundi label.
Melnikov's recording of the complete Preludes and Fugues by Shostakovich was awarded the BBC Music Magazine Award, Choc de classica and the Jahrespreis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. In 2011, it was also named by the BBC Music Magazine as one of the “50 Greatest Recordings of All Time.” Additionally, Melnikov's discography features works by Brahms, Rachmaninoff and Scriabin.
