Alexis Golovin facts for kids

Alexis Fyodorovich Golovin (born October 31, 1945 – died July 12, 2023) was a very talented Russian classical pianist. He was known for his amazing piano skills and for teaching many young musicians. Golovin performed all over the world and recorded many classical music pieces.

Early Life and Education

Alexis Golovin started playing the piano when he was just five years old. He studied at the Central Music School of Moscow with a famous teacher named Anna Artobolevskaya. Later, he continued his music education at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. There, he learned both how to play the piano and how to study music history and theory.

Advanced Studies and Awards

Golovin moved to Switzerland to finish his studies at the Geneva Conservatory. He was incredibly good and won the first prize for his amazing piano playing. He also won awards at important music competitions, like the Casagrande Competition in Terni, Italy, and the Busoni Competition in Bolzano, Italy. These awards showed how talented he was.

A Global Performer

Alexis Golovin traveled all over the world to give concerts. He performed in many countries across Europe, Asia, Southern Africa, North America, and South America. He also played at some of the most famous music festivals.

Special Performances

Golovin often played with other great musicians. He performed in a duo with the famous pianist Martha Argerich. He also played new pieces of music for the very first time, including the Second and Third sonatas by the composer Ginastera. Even though he traveled a lot, he always stayed connected to his home country, Russia. He often performed in Moscow's biggest concert halls, like the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He also played with the State Philharmonic Orchestra there.

A Dedicated Teacher

Besides being a performer, Alexis Golovin spent a lot of time teaching music. He was a professor at the Geneva Conservatory, where he helped many students become great pianists. His students often won top prizes in international music competitions, which showed how good he was at teaching.

Master Classes Worldwide

Golovin also gave special teaching sessions called master classes. These classes were held at famous music schools and academies around the world. He taught at places like the Internationale Sommerakademie Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Conservatory of Buenos-Aires. He also taught at the Conservatory of Moscow, the Oxford Philomusica Summer Academy, and the Canton International Summer Music Academy.

Recordings and Legacy

Alexis Golovin recorded many albums throughout his career. His recordings include beautiful works by composers like Chopin and Schumann. He also recorded Rachmaninoff's Etudes Tableaux and pieces by Scriabin. Other recordings feature Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1, his B minor Sonata, and the Mephisto Waltz. He also recorded chamber music and piano concertos by Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Nikolai Tcherepnin, and Rodion Shchedrin. His recordings allow people to enjoy his music even after his passing.

Personal Life

Alexis Golovin was married to Maya Simon, an actress from Switzerland. They had a daughter together named Marina Golovine, who also became an actress.