Alexei Lubimov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexei Lubimov People's Artist of Russia
Алексе́й Бори́сович Люби́мов
Lubimov in 1984
Born	16 September 1944 (age 80–81) Moscow, Russia
Occupation	Classical pianist, fortepianist, harpsichordist.
Years active	1968–present

Alexei Lubimov was born on September 16, 1944. He is a famous Russian musician. He plays the piano, but he is also known for playing older types of pianos, called the fortepiano, and another instrument called the harpsichord.

A Musical Journey

Alexei Lubimov studied music at the Moscow Conservatory. His teachers were famous musicians like Heinrich Neuhaus and Lev Naumov. After doing very well in several music competitions, he was the first person in the Soviet Union to play many new pieces. These pieces were by modern composers like Arnold Schoenberg and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

Challenges and New Paths

At the time, the Soviet government did not always like new Western music. Because Lubimov played this kind of music, he was not allowed to leave the Soviet Union for several years. During this time, he focused on playing music using old, historical instruments. This helped him become an expert in early music.

He also helped start several music groups. These include the Moscow Baroque Quartet and the Moscow Chamber Academy. He also created a music festival called "Alternativa."

Performing Around the World

Alexei Lubimov performs solo concerts all over the world. He also plays with many top symphony orchestras. He often works with groups that specialize in early music, like the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He has played chamber music (music for small groups) with many other talented musicians.

In recent years, he has performed with major orchestras. These include the London Philharmonic and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He has also toured with the Haydn Sinfonietta, playing music by Mozart. He played Joseph Haydn's music with the Camerata Salzburg in New York. He also performed Scriabin's Prometheus at the Salzburg Festival. In 2010 and 2011, he gave concerts at Lincoln Center in New York. He also toured with the Budapest Festival Orchestra.

A Concert Interrupted

In April 2022, something unusual happened during one of Lubimov's concerts in Moscow. Police officers came onto the stage while he was playing. He was performing Schubert’s Impromptu Op 90 No 2. Even with the police there, Lubimov bravely finished the last notes of his piece. This showed his strong dedication to his music.

Recordings

Alexei Lubimov has made many recordings. He often uses special, old pianos for his recordings. This helps listeners hear the music as it might have sounded when it was first written.

• Alexei Lubimov. Chopin, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven. At Chopin’s home piano. This recording was made on an old Pleyel piano from 1843.
• Alexei Lubimov. Franz Schubert. Impromptus. For this, he used two old pianos: an 1810 Matthias Müller piano and an 1830 Joseph Schantz piano.
• Alexei Lubimov and his friends. Ludwig van Beethoven. Complete piano sonatas. They used copies of old pianos made by Paul McNulty. These copies were like pianos from Beethoven's time.
• Alexei Lubimov. Beethoven. Piano Sonatas - No.8, Op.13 “Pathetique”; No. 14, Op.27, No.2 “Moonlight”; No.21, Op.53 “Waldstein” in C Major; No.27. This was recorded on an antique John Broadwood & Son fortepiano from 1806.
• Alexei Lubimov with Alexei Zuev. Claude Debussy. Preludes. They used a Steinway piano from 1913 and a Bechstein piano from 1925.
• Alexei Lubimov and Keller Quartett. Lento — Alfred Schnittke, Dmitri Shostakovich.
• Dennis Russel Davies (conductor), Alexei Lubimov (piano), Radio Symphonieorchester Wien. Valentin Silvestrov: Metamusik/Postludum.