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The Ukrainian pianist, Alexey [Aleksei, Aleksej] Botvinov, was born in all-musicians family in Odessa, where he studied with Professor Mogilewskaja and later at the Conservatory of Odessa with Professor Kardaschew. In 1987-1989 he was a student at the famous Moscow Conservatory with famous Professor Gornostayeva. He was a winner of competitions as the first Allunions-Rachmaninow-Competition in Moscow, the eighth International Bach-Competition in Leipzig and the very first Clara-Schumann-Competition in Düsseldorf.
In 1993 Alexey Botvinov played Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto for the opening of the concert season at the Tonhalle Zürich with the Radio Symphony Orchestra Moscow under the baton of Vladimir Fedoseyev, which was highly acclaimed by the press and by the audience. During the years 1994-1996 he lived in Düsseldorf (Germany), where he was asked to perform J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) and Robert Schumann's Kinderszenen with the ballet productions by the famous choreographer Heinz Spoerli. Meanwhile he toured in Russia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Great Britain, Finland, Holland, Poland, Japan, Canada, South Africa and Israel with huge success. For his breathtaking performance of Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) in June 2001 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin the press wrote: 'a real firework at the piano' (Berliner Kurier.) Followed by the great acclaim Alexey Botvinov played additional ballet productions by Heinz Spoerli with music by J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Frédéric Chopin, Schnittke and Igor Stravinsky. J. Brahms' Händel-Variationen, some of F. Chopin's Nocturnes and Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) by J.S. Bach are available on CD alphadisc (Superbe! Le Figaro).
In January 1998 Alexey Botvinov was invited to Prague to play both D minor piano concertos by J.S. Bach and W.A. Mozart at the famous concert hall of Rudolfinum with "Musici de Praga" (conductor: Mario Beretta). This concert was live recorded and it's also available on CD (alphadisc). Immediately after this concert the Czech Chamber Philharmony invited Alexey Botvinov to play with them in May 1998 at the same hall, W.A. Mozart's Piano Concerto in C major KV 467. Both concerts were applauded with great enthusiasm.
The recitals Alexey Botvinov played in Switzerland and mainly at the Züricher Festspiele with works by J.S. Bach, F. Chopin, Gabriel Fauré, Ravel and Sergei Rachmaninov were given standing ovations and enthusiastic acclaims by the press. In his home town Odessa he lectures the piano at the Conservatory and he was a member of Jury at the International Piano Competition Arthur Rubinstein in Poland. In summer 2003 Botvinov was nominated artist in residence at the Murten Classics Festival (Switzerland) with enthusiastic success. Among other engagements he was invited in February 2005 to play at the Deutsche Oper Berlin S. Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 under the baton of Dmitri Kitaenko in place of Christian Thielemann. In 2005 he played his debut recital at the Wigmore Hall London and in 2006 - at the Berlin Philharmonie.
During 2006 Alexey Botvinov was on tour in China with Zürcher Kammerorchester with works of W.A. Mozart and Dmitri Shostakovich under the baton of Howard Griffiths and with Royal Flanders Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Daniele Callegari he toured most successfully in Belgium and Germany playing S. Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2. Every concert of Asian tour in October 2007 (Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur ,Jakarta, Taiwan) was finishing with standing ovation.
Alexey Botvinov is an exceptional pianist in our time. He one of the best specialists in S. Rachmaninov music worldwide. But his deeply expressed, suggestive artistic interpretations of all major piano styles make him extraordinary performer whatever he plays. There are more than 30 piano concertos on his extremely broad repertoire, among others such rare played like Prokofiev's Concerto No. 2 or S. Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2. He is probably the only pianist who performed J.S. Bach's masterpiece Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) more than 200 times on stage.
Alexey Botvinov performed in over 30 countries. Honored Artist of Ukraine, in his country’s press he enjoys such words like “symbol of high spirit” or “true mark for authentic sense of music”. His concert in Kiev Philharmony Hall in December 2006 was acclaimed by Ukrainian press as the best music event of the year. |
