EVGENY KISIN

One of the most important contemporary performing artists, Evgeny Kisin is the most well known of all Russian concert pianists. A child prodigy, he began to play the piano at the age of two. At the age of six he joined the Gnesin School of Music and at ten he made his first appearance with an orchestra. A year later he gave his first solo concert.

In 1984 Evgeny has performed in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. His name immediately became widely known in the Soviet Union and beyond. Kisin performed in Moscow, Leningrad and rapidly gained recognition abroad. In 1986 he first toured in Japan. A year later he made his European debut at the Berlin Festival. Following that he went on tour with the Virtuosi Moskvy chamber orchestra headed by Vladimir Spivakov. In September 1990 he made his debut in North America playing the first piano recitals in Carnegie Hall's centennial. Since then, the young pianist has established himself among the ranks of the contemporary music elite.

His joint appearance with the Youth Orchestra of the European Community under the leadership of Claudio Abbado at the Royal Festival became one of the most important events of European musical life.

Over the last decade Kisin played with virtually all leading conductors in the world. Vladimir Ashkenazy, Seiji Ozawa, Svetlanov, Yuri Temirkanov and Carlo Maria Giulini - this is an incomplete list of the brilliant conductors who have paid tribute to the talent and skill of the young pianist from Moscow by collaborating with him.

Evgeny Kisin has never participated in performers’ competitions, but he is the recipient of many awards, including the Italian Academy of Music Award in Italy, the honorary Triumph Award for Outstanding Contribution to Russian Culture (1997), the Shostakovich Prize, a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (2006) and the Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Award in Italy (2007).

He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music by Manhattan School of Music (2001), and is an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in London (2005).

Evgeny Kisen lives and works in the U.S.A.

From the book LIFE MUSIC by Alexandra Kremer-Khomasuridze:

"Which is stronger: a word or a sound? I do not know how to gauge. They manifest themselves differently. I cannot explain music in words."

“If I never find marital happiness in my life, I'll be miserable. In this respect even the music that I love so much will not make me happy. On the other hand, it is difficult to imagine if something should happen to my hands ... In that case, even a good family life full of happiness couldn't satisfy me.''

“The Italian public is the most temperamental. There's more cause for an encore than anywhere else. In Germany and Austria the public is the most prepared. In Russia, except for the “new Russian” element, they are the most self-sacrificing. Here, people do not express such enthusiasm as the Italians, but I know that for a ticket and even flowers, they can give their last penny.”