Evgeny Kissin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Evgeny Kissin
Евге́ний Ки́син
Kissin in 2021
Born	Evgeny Igorevich Kissin (1971-10-10) 10 October 1971 (age 53) Moscow, Russian SFSR
Nationality	Russian, British, Israeli
Occupation	Musician
Years active	1982–present
Spouse(s)	Karina Arzumanova ​ (m. 2017)​

Evgeny Kissin (born October 10, 1971) is a famous concert pianist and composer. He was born in Russia and later became a citizen of both Britain and Israel. Evgeny Kissin became well-known around the world as a child prodigy, meaning he was incredibly talented at a very young age.

He is known for playing many different types of music. He is especially famous for his performances of music from the Romantic era. This includes works by composers like Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, and Ludwig van Beethoven. Many people see him as a very important pianist from the Russian piano tradition. They admire his deep, beautiful, and expressive playing style.

Early Life and Learning

Evgeny Kissin was born in Moscow, Russia. His parents were Jewish. He was recognized as a musical genius when he was only 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 an orchestra. A year later, he gave his first solo piano show in Moscow. His amazing talent became known outside Russia in 1984. He was only twelve when he recorded two of Chopin's piano concertos. He played with the Moscow Philharmonic orchestra.

Amazing Career

Becoming a Concert Star

Evgeny Kissin first performed outside Russia in 1985, in Eastern Europe. The next year, he went on his first tour in Japan.

In 1987, at age sixteen, he played his first concerts in Western Europe. He performed at the Berlin Festival and in the United Kingdom. In 1988, he toured Europe with the Moscow Virtuosi orchestra. He also played his first concert in London with the London Symphony Orchestra. Later that year, he performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the famous conductor Herbert von Karajan. This concert was broadcast all over the world. In 1990, he made his first appearance in North America. He played at Carnegie Hall in New York City, which is a very famous concert venue.

In 1997, he made history by giving the first solo piano recital at The Proms in London. The Proms is a huge music festival.

Kissin often tours around Europe, America, and Asia. He has played with almost all the world's top orchestras. He has worked with many famous conductors like Claudio Abbado and Zubin Mehta. He has also performed chamber music, which is music for a small group of instruments. He has played with other great musicians like Martha Argerich and Itzhak Perlman.

Poetry and Writing

Besides playing classical music, Evgeny Kissin also loves poetry. He has given readings of Russian and Yiddish poetry. He has spoken in interviews about how much he admires the Yiddish language. Several CDs of his poetry readings have been released.

In 2018, Kissin's autobiography was published. It was called Memoirs and Reflections. An autobiography is a book about a person's own life. In 2019, he published a book of poems, short stories, and translations in Yiddish. Another book of his short stories and diaries in Yiddish came out in 2021.

His Own Music

Evgeny Kissin has also written many musical pieces himself. These have been published by Henle Verlag. Some of his compositions include "Four Piano Pieces, Op. 1" and "Violoncello Sonata, Op. 2."

His "String Quartet, Op. 3" was recorded in 2016. A string quartet is a group of four string instruments. This piece was first performed in the UK in 2019.

Personal Life

In March 2017, Evgeny Kissin married Karina Arzumanova. She was a friend from his childhood. They got married in Prague, where they now live.

Kissin has also spoken out about the conflict in Ukraine. In 2022, he and other Russian artists signed a letter against the invasion. He even composed a piano trio in response to the conflict. This piece was first performed in Amsterdam in October 2022. In July 2024, the Russian government listed Kissin as a "foreign agent."

Awards and Honors

Evgeny Kissin has received many awards and honors from all over the world. In 1987, he won the Crystal Prize in Japan for his excellent performance. In 1991, he was named Musician of the Year in Italy. He performed at the Grammy Awards Ceremony in 1992. That same year, his first album from Carnegie Hall was nominated for a Grammy Award.

In 1995, he became Musical America's youngest Instrumentalist of the Year. In 1997, he received the Triumph Award for his great contribution to Russian culture. He was the youngest person ever to receive this high honor. He was also the first pianist to be invited to give a solo recital 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 another Honorary Doctorate from the University of Hong Kong.

• 1995: Musical America, Instrumentalist of the Year
• 1997: Triumph Award, for his outstanding contribution to Russia's culture
• 2001: Honorary Doctorate of Music, Manhattan School of Music, New York
• 2005: Honorary Membership of the Royal Academy of Music
• 2005: Herbert von Karajan Award, Baden-Baden, Germany
• 2006: Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance
• 2007: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Award, Brescia, Italy
• 2009: Doctor of Letters honoris causa, The University of Hong Kong
• 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