Mikhail Pletnev

The pianist, conductor and composer Mikhail Pletnev is an “all-round” musician who defies categorization. He was born in Archangel, Russia, in 1957. His parents were both musicians, and Pletnev displayed exceptional musical talent from an early age. When he was 13, he began to study the piano at the Moscow Conservatory with the famous pianists and teachers Jacob Flier and Lev Vlasenko. In 1978, Pletnev won the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow and, as a result, was able to make concert tours outside the former Soviet Union through­out Europe, Japan, the US and Israel. Over the years he has appeared as soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors.

1980
While still pursuing his career as an international concert pianist, Pletnev makes his debut as a conductor in the former Soviet Union

1988
Invited by President Mikhail Gorbachev to perform at the superpower summit in Washington

1989
The collapse of the Soviet system gives Pletnev the historic opportunity to realize his dream of forming an independent orchestra. He founds the Russian National Orchestra, which, under his leadership, soon achieves international recognition

1990
The RNO under Pletnev becomes the first Russian orchestra to perform at the Vatican for the Pope. Shortly afterwards it becomes the first Russian orchestra to tour Israel. Since then the ensemble has appeared all over the world

1993
Signs exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon

1994
First DG releases: Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony and The Rock; Tchaikovsky’s Man­fred and The Tempest

1995
Honoured by President Yeltsin with Russia’s First State Prize for his services to music

1996
The RNO and Pletnev tour the Far East and perform at the inaugural concert of the Olympic Games in Atlanta

1997
Takes part in the New Year’s Eve Concert in Berlin with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Abbado. Pletnev’s first solo recital disc (Chopin) is hailed as “Record of the Year” by the influential German critic and piano expert Joachim Kaiser

1998
The highly successful world premiere of his Viola Concerto takes place in Moscow, with Yuri Bashmet as soloist and the RNO under Pletnev’s baton

1999
Appointed Conductor Laureate of the Russian National Orchestra, and continues his collaboration with the RNO as conductor and pianist

2000
His Carnegie Hall recital debut is recorded live and released in 2001 (Echo Award). Performs with Abbado and the Berliner Philharmoniker at the “Europa Konzert” 2000, televised and broadcast worldwide from the Philharmonie. Acclaimed for performances of Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto and Paganini Rhapsody with the National Sym­phony Orchestra under Slatkin in Washington DC and on tour throughout Europe. Invited to perform as soloist under Long Yu in Beijing in December at the inaugural concert of the China Philharmonic Orchestra

2001
Appears as soloist with Kent Nagano and the UBS Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra and with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic on tour in Moscow. His interpretations of Beethoven’s complete Piano Concertos with Christoph von Dohnányi and the Philharmonia Orchestra are acclaimed in London

2002
Honoured by President Putin with Russia’s First State Prize for his services to music. Pletnev’s recording of sonatas by C. P. E. Bach (released in 2001) receives the Edison Award. World premiere with Martha Argerich of his own transcription for two pianos of the suite from Prokofiev’s ballet Cinderella at the “Lugano Festival Martha Argerich Project”. Recording of Rachmaninov’s and Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concertos in Moscow with the Russian National Orchestra conducted by Rostropovich (released in 2003)

2003
Appointed Artistic Director of the Russian National Orchestra. Far East recital tour and performances of the complete Beethoven Piano Concertos with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Rachmaninov concertos in England (with the Philharmonia) and Stock­holm (with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra). Festival solo appearances include Orange, Verbier, Edinburgh, La Roque d’Anthéron, Ruhr and Rheingau

2004
Solo recitals throughout Europe; tours of Spain, Italy, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Russia and Taiwan conducting the Russian National Orchestra; concert appearances in Rome (with the Santa Cecilia Orchestra under Chung), and on tour in the US with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and Herbert Blomstedt. CD releases: a Schumann solo piano programme plus a historic collaboration with Martha Argerich playing Ravel’s Ma Mère l’Oye and Pletnev’s two-piano transcription of Prokofiev’s Cinderella Suite (Diapason d’or, Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, Choc du Monde de la musique, 2004; Grammy, Midem Classical Award, 2005)

2005
Engagements conducting the Russian National Orchestra in Moscow, the Tokyo Philhar­monic (including his own Viola Concerto), Philharmonia, Gothenburg and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestras; concerts in Spain, Belgium, Italy, the UK, Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland with the Russian National Orchestra; concert appearances with Kremer­ata Baltica, solo recitals including France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Korea and Japan. Releases feature Pletnev as pianist in Tchaikovsky’s “18 Pieces” op. 72, and Sergei Taneyev’s Piano Quintet and Piano Trio with Vadim Repin, Ilya Gringolts, Nobuko Imai and Lynn Harrell (Gramophone Award, 2006)

2006
Soloist and conductor in Mozart programmes with the Philharmonia Orchestra on tour in Europe; further concerts with the Philharmonia under Dutoit (Grieg and Beethoven Piano Concertos); US tour conducting the Russian National Orchestra in a programme of mainly Russian repertoire; Beethoven Cycle (Symphonies and Piano Concertos) with the Russian National Orchestra in Moscow, Montreux and Bonn; Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Tokyo Philharmonic in Japan; concerts in Rome with the Orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia; recitals throughout Europe. CD release: Mozart’s Piano Sonatas K. 330, 331, 332 and 457

2007
Appearances include concerts in the US and France with the Russian National Orchestra and pianist Nicolai Lugansky; with the RNO and pianist Denis Matsuev in Germany, Hungary and on tour in the Russian Federation; with the RNO on two extensive tours of the Far East (including concerts in Japan with pianist Rafał Blechacz). Appearances with the Concertgebouw Orchestra and pianist Arcadi Volodos in the Netherlands, and the Tokyo Philharmonic and pianist Alexander Melnikow in Japan. Conducts Tchaikovsky’s opera Pique Dame at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre. Appearance at the Verbier Festival together with pianist Martha Argerich. In April a special concert was given in Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall to celebrate Pletnev’s 50th birthday. This year sees the release of Pletnev’s recordings with the Russian National Orchestra of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos nos. 1–4 (Christian Gansch conducting) and the Nine Symphonies. The CD release of Piano Concerto no. 5 is scheduled for 2008