Evgeny Kissin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Evgeny Kissin
|
|
|---|---|
Kissin in 2021
|
|
| Born |
Evgeny Igorevich Kissin
10 October 1971 |
| Nationality | Russian, British, Israeli |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Karina Arzumanova
(m. 2017) |
Evgeny Kissin (born 10 October 1971) is a famous concert pianist and composer. He was born in Russia and later became a British citizen in 2002 and an Israeli citizen in 2013. Evgeny Kissin became known around the world as a child prodigy, meaning he was incredibly talented from a very young age.
He is famous for playing many different types of music. He is especially good at playing music from the Romantic era. This includes works by famous composers like Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, and Ludwig van Beethoven. Many people see him as a great pianist from the Russian piano tradition. They admire his deep, emotional, and poetic way of playing music.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Evgeny Kissin was born in Moscow, Russia. His parents were Jewish. He was recognized as a child prodigy when he was just six years old. He started learning piano at the Gnessin Music School in Moscow. His only piano teacher there was Anna Kantor, who taught him for many years.
When he was ten, he played his first big concert. He performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 with the Ulyanovsk Symphony Orchestra. A year later, he gave his first solo piano show in Moscow. His amazing talent became known outside Russia in 1984. At just twelve years old, he recorded two of Chopin's piano concertos. He played with the Moscow Philharmonic at the Moscow Conservatory.
His Music Career
Becoming a Concert Pianist
Evgeny Kissin first performed outside Russia in 1985 in Eastern Europe. The next year, he went on his first tour of Japan.
In 1987, when he was sixteen, he played for the first time in Western Europe at the Berlin Festival. He also made his United Kingdom debut at The Lichfield Festival. In 1988, he toured Europe with the Moscow Virtuosi. He also played in London for the first time with the London Symphony Orchestra. In December of that year, he played Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with Herbert von Karajan. This concert was broadcast around the world.
In September 1990, he played for the first time in North America. He performed Chopin's two piano concertos with the New York Philharmonic. He also gave the first piano recital in Carnegie Hall's 100th anniversary season.
In 1997, he gave the first solo piano recital ever at The Proms in London. The Proms is a very famous music festival.
Kissin often tours Europe, America, and Asia, giving solo shows. He has played with almost all the world's top orchestras. He has worked with many famous conductors like Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, and Herbert von Karajan. He has also played chamber music (music for small groups) with other great musicians. Some of these include Martha Argerich, Isaac Stern, and Itzhak Perlman.
Poetry and Writing
Besides classical music, Evgeny Kissin also recites Russian and Yiddish poetry. He has spoken about how much he loves the Yiddish language. He has even released three CDs of his Yiddish poetry recitals.
In 2018, his autobiography, Memoirs and Reflections, was published. An autobiography is a book about your own life. In 2019, he published a book of poems, short stories, and translations in Yiddish. Another book of his Yiddish short stories and diaries came out in 2021.
Composing Music
Evgeny Kissin has also written many musical pieces himself. These have been published by Henle Verlag. Some of his works include "Four Piano Pieces, Op. 1" and "Violoncello Sonata, Op. 2."
His "String Quartet, Op. 3" (written in 2016) was recorded by the Kopelman Quartet. A string quartet is a group of four string instruments, usually two violins, a viola, and a cello.
Personal Life
On March 10, 2017, Evgeny Kissin married Karina Arzumanova. She was a friend from his childhood. They got married in Prague, where they now live.
Evgeny Kissin has also spoken out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He and other Russian artists signed a letter against the invasion. He even composed a piano trio (music for three pianos) in response to the invasion. This piece was first performed in Amsterdam in October 2022.
Awards and Honors
Evgeny Kissin has received many music awards and honors from all over the world.
- In 1987, he won the Crystal Prize for the best performance of the year in Japan.
- In 1991, he received the Musician of the Year Prize in Italy.
- He performed at the 1992 Grammy Awards Ceremony.
- In 1995, he became Musical America's youngest Instrumentalist of the Year.
- In 1997, he received the Triumph Award for his great contribution to Russia's culture. He was the youngest person ever to receive this high honor.
- He was the first pianist to be asked to give a solo show at the BBC Proms in 1997.
- In May 2001, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the Manhattan School of Music.
- In December 2003, he received the Shostakovich Award in Moscow. This is one of Russia's highest musical honors.
- In June 2005, he became an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music in London.
- In March 2009, he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Hong Kong.
Here are some of his other important awards:
- 1995: Musical America, Instrumentalist of the Year
- 1997: Triumph Award, Outstanding Contribution to Russia's Culture
- 2005: Herbert von Karajan Award
- 2006: Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance
- 2007: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Award
- 2009: Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra)
- 2010: Honorary Doctorate, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- 2010: Second Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra)
- 2021: Honorary Doctorate, National Academy of Music (Bulgaria)
See also
In Spanish: Yevgueni Kisin para niños
