Vladimir Krainev

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Vladimir Krainev (born 1944) is a Russian pianist and professor of piano.

As an honoured pianist of Russia, he made his solo debut when he was seven years old, performing Haydn and Beethoven concertos with orchestra. He studied at the Central School of the Moscow Conservatory in the class of Anaida Sumbatian, and studied at the Moscow Conservatory in the classes of Heinrich Neuhaus, and his son, Stanislav Neuhaus.

After wining first prizes at international contests in Lisbon, Portugal, Leeds, England, and especially after his brilliant victory at the IX. International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (1970) his career as a pianist began. His performances with famous orchestras, eminent conductors and outstanding soloists all over the world have made Vladimir Krainev known as a great musician of our time.

He has performed with the world's leading orchestras and conductors, and has collaborated with renowned artists throughout the world. Alfred Schnittke has dedicated one of his piano concertos to him. International music festivals known as "The Invitation of Vladimir Krainev" are performed each year in Ukraine, Kazakhistan, and Kyrgyzstan, and concerts called "Vladimir Krainev: his Friends and Pupils" are given annually at the Moscow Conservatory. Krainev is a jury member of many international piano competitions, for instance: Leeds, Lisbon, and Tokyo, as well as the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.

Vladimir Krainev is professor at the University for Music and Theater in Hanover, Germany, where 29 young pianists from the People's Republic of China, France, Germany, Korea, Russia, Ukraine, and other countries currently study with him; many are prize winners of international piano competitions. In 1992, Krainev organized the first international competition of young pianists in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The competition is broadcast on radio and television. The next Vladimir Krainev competition will be the 9th International Vladimir Krainev Competition in March 2008.

In 1994, Krainev established the Vladimir Krainev International Fund for Young Pianists.

He presently lives in Hanover and is married to Tatiana Tarasova, a renowned figure skating coach who has trained the winners of nine Olympic gold medals.