Alexei Sultanov facts for kids

Alexei Sultanov (born August 7, 1969 – died June 30, 2005) was a super talented classical pianist. He was born in the Soviet Union but later became an American citizen. His family came from Uzbekistan.

About Alexei Sultanov

Alexei Sultanov grew up in a family of musicians. His father played the cello, and his mother played the violin. Both of his parents were music teachers.

Early Life and Training

Alexei started playing the piano when he was just 6 years old. He took lessons in Tashkent with a teacher named Tamara Popovich. Later, he studied with Lev Naumov at the famous Moscow Conservatory.

When he was thirteen, Alexei took part in the International Radio Competition for Young Musicians in Prague. This showed how talented he was from a young age.

Becoming Famous

Alexei became very famous after winning the Eighth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. This happened on June 11, 1989. He was only 19 years old, making him the youngest person in that competition.

People were amazed by his incredible playing. He had amazing skill, deep musical feeling, and could play very softly or very loudly. After winning the Van Cliburn competition, he even appeared on popular TV shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman.

In October 1995, Sultanov won second prize at the International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition. However, he chose not to accept the prize. The top prize was not given to anyone that year.

He became an American citizen in 2004.

Health Challenges

In 1996, Alexei had his first stroke. A stroke is a serious health problem that affects the brain. His wife, Dace Abele, convinced him to see a doctor. The doctor found small blood clots in his brain.

Even after this, Alexei kept performing. He had another stroke while performing in Tokyo. Later, doctors found he had a heart condition. In February 2001, he had another stroke. These strokes caused damage, but his brain's thinking part was still working. He was able to keep playing the piano, even though he had to sit in a wheelchair.

Alexei Sultanov passed away on June 30, 2005, in Fort Worth. He was 35 years old.

His Music and Legacy

Alexei Sultanov's performances of concertos by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff were recorded. These recordings featured the London Symphony Orchestra and were released by Teldec Classics.

He also released other albums, like Fantaisie–Impromptu in 1997 and Sultanov plays Chopin two years later. These were published by Arts Core Corporation.

Alexei was also featured in a PBS documentary called Here to Make Music. This film was made by Peter Rosen for viewers in the US. The documentary won an award and has been shown around the world.

See also

In Spanish: Alekséi Sultánov para niños