Denis Matsuev

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Denis Matsuev

Denis Leonidovich Matsuev (Дени́с Леони́дович Мацу́ев) (born June 11, 1975) is a Russian pianist who won the first prize in the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998 in Moscow. Matsuev has a phenomenal technique, and some consider him to be one of the greatest contemporary pianists.

1 His childhood in Irkutsk
2 Years in Moscow
3 Into the world arena
4 His performance art
5 Discography
6 External links

[edit] His childhood in Irkutsk

Matsuev was born in Irkutsk, Russian Federation in a family of musicians. His mother was a piano teacher, and his father was well-known pianist and composer in Irkutsk Oblast. When Matsuev was 3 years old, he heard a melody on the television and went to the piano and repeated the melody with one finger exactly. This made his father sure of his child's promise and he became Matsuev's first music teacher. Until he was 15 years old he studied in musical school in Irkutsk. Matsuev loved to play hockey and football during his childhood, and he broke his arm twice. This was a reason for continuous quarrels between him and his father.

[edit] Years in Moscow

In 1990 Matsuev moved to Moscow with his parents to continue his education there. In Moscow he studied in the Central Musical School. In 1991 he became a laureate of the International Charity Foundation "New Names" program. In 1993 he participated in his first international piano competition in South Africa where he won the first prize. In the same year he entered the Moscow Conservatory as a student of Professor Nasedkin and later Professor Dorensky. In 1995 he became a soloist with the Moscow State Philharmonic.

[edit] Into the world arena

Winning the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998 at the age of 23 years old was the turning point in his career. Matsuev gave concerts in all around the world and played with famous conductors such as Evgeny Svetlanov, Vladimir Spivakov, and Claudio Abbado. Matsuev now is giving 150 concerts per year. He is also the organizer of two festivals in Russia. The first one is "Stars on Baikal", his musical gift to his homeland and Baikal, and the other one is Crescendo, which was first held in Moscow in 2005 and then in Saint Petersburg in 2006.

[edit] His performance art

The Dusseldorf newspaper West Deutsche Zeitung wrote that: "Denis Matsuev possesses phenomenal talents. His playing gives one a basis for believing that a new star has appeared in the firmament of pianists." Matsuev's demonstrative piano performing, especially in highly-demanding technical pieces, is remarkable. His performances of Rachmaninoff's Second Sonata, Skryabin's Etude 12 and Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody in c# minor (in which he performs the cadenza in a jazz manner) are outstanding. His fans believe his records don't reflect the whole magnificence of his playing due to the abundance of artistry in his performances. Matsuev's technique is debated by many pianists, as it hides a lack of musical understanding. However, his performance of The Seasons by Tchaikovsky contradicts this. Matsuev also plays jazz piano music. He was the first pianist to perform a jazz concert in Moscow conservatory.

Matsuev performs most of his concerts on Yamaha pianos, and he is a Yamaha Artist.

[edit] Discography

Denis Matsouev, piano - Beethoven, Tchaikowsky, Liszt, Prokofiev. Collection Etoiles. Enregistrement en public - Eglise Notre-Dame d'Auvers-sur-Oise, 27.05.2000
MATSUEV - Liszt: Mephisto Waltz S.514, Schumann: Symphonic Etudes op. 13, Schubert: Piano Sonata No.14 in a minor D.784. Sacrambow (Japan), © & (P) 2000 JAPAN ARTS
Classic Masterpieces. BUDAPEST Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor Rico Saccani. Tchaikovsky - Piano concertos Nos. 1 & 2. Soloist: Denis MATSOUEV. © & (P) 2003 Independent Music & Media Alliance LTD.
MARISS JANSONS - Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks - DENIS MATSUEV. Stravinsky - Firebird Suite, Shchedrin - Piano Concerto No.5. © 2005 Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Denis Matsuev - Stravinsky & Tchaikovsky. I. Stravinsky - Three Movements From Petrouchka, P.I.Tchaikovsky - The Seasons. RCA Red Seal. (P) & © 2005 Sony BMG Music Entertainment.