Alexei Lubimov

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Alexei Lubimov (Алексей Любимов, born 1944) is a Russian pianist and harpsichordist. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Heinrich Neuhaus and Lew Naumov. After successes in several competitions, he went on to give the first Soviet performances of a number of pieces by composers such as Schoenberg, Stockhausen, Boulez and Ligeti. His commitment to western music was heavily criticised by the Soviet authorities, and he was prevented from leaving the Soviet Union for several years, during which time Lubimov concentrated on working with period instruments. He is a founder of the Moscow Baroque Quartet and the Moscow Chamber Academy (with Tatiana Grindenko). Apart from giving solo recitals throughout the world and appearing with leading symphony orchestras, he works regularly with early music ensembles such as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Among his partners in chamber music are Andreas Staier, Natalia Gutman, Peter Schreier, Heinrich Schiff, Christian Tetzlaff, Gidon Kremer, Ivan Monighetti and Wieland Kuijken.

His numerous recordings include piano duets with Andreas Staier on Teldec, and a much heralded recording of the complete Mozart piano sonatas (on fortepiano) on Erato.