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Mikhail Pletnev
(1957 - living) Russia

Mikhail Pletnev

Pianist, conductor, and composer

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Born in Arkhangelsk, his father was an accordion teacher, his mother a pianist. They recognized Mikhail's talent early on. He grew up in Kazan where he learnt several instruments, including the piano. At the age of 13, he transferred to the Central School of Music in Moscow.

In 1974, Mikhail entered the Moscow Conservatory. At 21, Mikhail won the Gold Medal and First Prize in the 1978 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow which allowed him to tour outside the Soviet Union. His recording of his own arrangements from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker suite and Shchedrin's Anna Karenina created a sensation.

In 1980, Pletnev made his debut as a director. As guest conductor, he has directed the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

In 1988, he was invited by General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to perform at the superpower summit in Washington. In 1990, with the help of the private sector, Mikhail founded the Russian National Orchestra (RNO), the first completely state-independent orchestra since the revolution of 1917.

In 1991, as the first Russian orchestra, the RNO played a private concert in the Vatican for Pope Jean Paul II. In 1995, Pletnev was awarded the first State Prize of the Russian Federation by President Yeltsin. In 1999, Pletnev stepped down as music director and principal conductor of the RNO, becoming its Laureate Conductor.

He continues his collaboration with the orchestra, recording with and conducting it at home and abroad. Vladimir Spivakov took over Pletnev's position at the RNO. Mikhail returned to the position of Artistic director of the Russian National Orchestra in 2002, after Vladimir Spivakov's short-lived unseccessful tenure.

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Source: http://www.cosmopolis.ch/english/cosmo12/pletnev.htm

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