Alexander Melnikov
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alexander Melnikov (born 1973) is a Russian 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.[1]
Along with solo and orchestral appearances, chamber music plays an important part in Melnikov’s activities. Between 1993 and 2003 he performed with violinist Vadim Repin, and he presently appears with violinist Isabelle Faust. He appears regularly in piano duo appearances with Andreas Staier, Boris Berezovsky, and Alexei Lubimov. Melnikov also maintined 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).[1]
Since 2002 Melnikov has taught piano at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, United Kingdom. In addition, Melnikov’s second love is aviation, and he is a qualified private pilot.[1]
