Denis Matsuev facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Denis Matsuev
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| Background information | |
| Native name |
Денис Мацуев
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| Born | 11 June 1975 Irkutsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Genres | Classical, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist |
| Labels | RCA Red Seal Records |
Denis Leonidovich Matsuev (born June 11, 1975) is a famous Russian pianist. He is best known for playing classical music. Sometimes, he also performs jazz music.
Contents
Becoming a Piano Star
Early Life and Musical Talent
Denis Matsuev was born in Irkutsk, Soviet Union. His parents were both musicians. His mother taught piano, and his father was a pianist and composer.
Denis showed his amazing musical talent very early. When he was just three years old, he could play a tune he heard on TV on the piano at home! His father became his first piano teacher.
Moving to Moscow and First Wins
Denis studied music in Irkutsk until he was 15. In 1990, he won a special prize at a competition. This prize helped him get money to study music in Moscow. He even went on tour in Europe and the United States with other talented young musicians.
In 1991, Denis and his family moved to Moscow. He continued his music studies at the Central Music School, which is part of the Moscow Conservatory.
His first international piano competition was in 1994 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He won the top prize there! That same year, he started studying at the Moscow Conservatory. Later, he studied with a famous teacher named Sergei Dorensky.
Winning the Tchaikovsky Competition
A big moment in Denis's career was in 1998. He won the 11th International Tchaikovsky Competition. This is one of the most important music competitions in the world. He was 23 years old when he won.
Organizing Music Festivals
Denis Matsuev doesn't just perform; he also helps organize big music events.
Leading Festivals in Russia and Beyond
He is a co-director of the "Annecy Classic Festival" in France. In Russia, he organizes two important international festivals:
- "Stars on Baikal" in his hometown of Irkutsk.
- The yearly "Crescendo" music festival.
He has also been the artistic director for other festivals, like the "Astana Piano Passion" Festival in 2012 and the "Sberbank DEBUT" Festival in Kyiv in 2013.
Honors and Special Moments
Olympic Performance and Awards
In February 2014, Denis Matsuev was a torchbearer for the Winter Olympics in Sochi. He also performed at the closing ceremony of the games.
In 2018, he received the Russian Order of Honour. This is a special award from Russia.
Public Statements and Concerts
Denis Matsuev has sometimes made public statements about political events. Because of some of his public statements, a concert he was supposed to play with the Vienna Philharmonic in New York in 2022 was cancelled. Another pianist took his place.
Awards and Titles
Denis Matsuev has received many awards and special titles:
- UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
- Order of Honour, 2018
- Russian National Music Award - Best Instrumentalist in Classical Music (won multiple times from 2016 to 2019)
- Special Prize for Exceptional Performing Skills, 2015
Recordings
Denis Matsuev has recorded many albums. Here are some of his notable recordings:
- Stravinsky – Firebird Suite, Shchedrin – Piano Concerto No. 5 (2005)
- Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 & Shostakovich: Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings (2007)
- The Carnegie Hall Concert – Denis Matsuev (2009)
- Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (2010)
- Franz Liszt – Piano concertos nos. 1 & 2 Totentanz (2011)
- Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2; Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue (2013)
- Tchaikovsky: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (2014)
- Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3, Symphony No. 5 (2014)
- Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2, Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 (2018)
See also
In Spanish: Denís Matsúyev para niños
