Alexander Peskanov

Alexander Peskanov is an American/Russian concert pianist and a composer.

Life

Alexander Peskanov was born in Odessa, Ukraine, where he attended the Stoliarsky School of Music.^[1] He immigrated to the United States from the U.S.S.R. in 1973, and attended the Juilliard School of Music.^[1] His soloist career debut was with Mstislav Rostropovich and the National Symphony. He has also appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and collaborated with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Alexander founded the Piano Olympics in 1991, and also started the International Piano Exchange in order to teach students and teachers Russian piano techniques.^[2] He has also produced the movie soundtrack of He Knows You're Alone with his brother, Mark Peskanov, and has had one of his compositions animated by Stephen Malinowski.^[3]

Critical response

After a performance in April 1988, Peskanov was described as a "courageous man" by Richard Jensen, writing for the Los Angeles Times, who mentions minor criticisms of his performance but also mentions the very appreciative stance of the audience, which asked for multiple encores.^[4]

Albums

• Brahms: Violin Sonatas - Eugene Fodor (Violin), Alexander Peskanov (Piano) (Clarity Records)
• Brahms: Violin Sonatas - Ilya Kaler (Violin), Alexander Peskanov (Piano) (Naxos Records)
• Morton Gould: Concerto Concertante - Masako Yanagita (violin)/Alexander Peskanov (piano)/Bronx Arts Ensemble (Musical Heritage Society)
• Spirits of the Wind – Peskanov Plays Peskanov (Touchwood Records)
• Scott Joplin: Piano Rags (Naxos Records)

Compositions

• Concerto for Piano Quartet and Orchestra
• Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra
• Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Strings (Arranged for Two Pianos)
• Concerto No. 2 “Ukrainian Concerto” for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos)
• Concerto No. 3 “Maryland Concerto” for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos)
• Concerto No. 4 for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos)
• Concerto No. 5 for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos)
• Concerto No. 6 for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos)
• Concerto No. 7 "Anniversary Concerto" for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos)
• Spring Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos)
• Concerto No. 9 “Boston Concerto” for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos)
• Concerto No. 10 “Italian Concerto” for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos)
• Concert Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos)
• Peskanov's Musical Gallery - Book 1 (solo piano collection)
• Peskanov's Musical Gallery - Book 2 (solo piano collection)
• Peskanov's Musical Gallery - Book 3 (solo piano collection)
• Peskanov's Musical Gallery - Book 4 (solo piano collection)
• Peskanov's Musical Reflections - Book 1 (solo piano collection)
• Peskanov's Musical Reflections - Book 2 (solo piano collection)
• Musical Collage (solo piano collection)
• Tribute to the Masters (solo piano collection)
• Temptations (solo piano)
• Joker's Waltz (solo piano)
• Intermezzo (solo piano)
• Sonata (Homage to Scarlatti) (solo piano)
• Ghost Story (solo piano)
• Elegie (solo piano)
• Farewell Waltz (solo piano)
• Brasileira (solo piano)
• Hong Kong Serenade (solo piano)
• Mexican Ballade (solo piano)
• Doorbell Marimba (solo piano)
• My Baby's Rag (solo piano)
• Balletto (solo piano)
• Black Key Blues (solo piano)
• Sinfonietta (1 Piano, 4 Hands)
• Country Rag (2 Pianos, 4 Hands)
• Equestrian Suite (Flute & Piano)
• Irish Poem (Flute and Piano)
• Sicilienne Impromptu (Flute and Piano)
• Mambo, Arranged for Flute by Maria Lourdes Lobo (Flute and Piano)

Books

• Piano Olympics Manual
• Piano Olympics Student Assignments - Level 1
• Piano Olympics Student Assignments - Level 2
• Piano Olympics Student Assignments - Level "C"
• The Russian Technical Regimen for the Piano - 6 Part Series

Videos

• "In Search of Sound" (Beginner, Intermediate, Virtuoso) - 3 Part Series

References