The Russian pianist, Pavel Nersessian (Russian: Павел Тигранович Нерсесьян), since his childhood has always been in touch with the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire. He studied from 1971 to 1982 at the Central Music School (Class by V. Levin). In 1973 he made his debut by playing the Concerto No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056 by J.S. Bach with the orchestra in the City of Gorky. After graduating from high school with honors, in 1982 he entered the Moscow Conservatory (class of Sergei Dorensky), graduating in 1987 with maximum marks – a rare distinction.
Upon graduating, Pavel Nersessian was proposed to teach at the Moscow Conservatory. He began his teaching job as an assistant to Sergei Dorensky and as a concertmaster of the Children's Music School number 60 in Moscow. Since 1997 he has been an Associate Professor, since 2004 - Professor, Department of Special Piano at Moscow Conservatory (since 2007 he has been working at the department of special piano under the guidance of Professor S. Dorensky. In 2013 he became a professor of piano in Boston University. He has worked with such talented pupils as N. Lugansky, D. Matsuev, V. Rudenko, Olga Kern, A. Shtarkman, I. Tasovats, M. Amara, A. Dossin, V. Igoshina, F. Kopachevsky, Pavel Kolesnikov and many others. Many of his students were the winners of international competitions: V. Korchynska-Kogan, O. Tutova, Stepan Simonian, Z. Chochieva, E. Popkov, C. Maghakyan and others. In addition to teaching activities, he frequently gives master-classes in the USA, Russia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Korea, Brazil and Japan.
Being one of the most remarkable pianists of his generation in Russia, Pavel Nersessian is known for his ability to play equally convincing in the whole palette of the piano repertoire. He has won prizes in every piano competition he has entered, including Beethoven Competition in Vienna in 1985, Paloma O’Shea Competition in Santander and Tokyo Competition. After the performance of P. Nersessian in Tokyo, the reviewer Ongaku no tomo noted (December 1989): «Among all the Soviet pianists who participated in the competition, he was remarkable for his very special style of performance ...» «He's ... like a free spirit, illuminating the scene with his bright temperament, individual colors and imagination ... not being distracted by the trills and octave (although they are immaculate), it is easy to concentrate attention on any possible detail or image» (Grammophone London, 1998, a review of the disc).
Pavel Nersessian's awards in piano competitions include: 2nd Prize at VII Ludwig van Beethoven in Vienna (1985); 4th Prize at X Paloma O'Shea Santander International Piano Competition (1987); 1st Prize at II Dublin Competition (1991). Winning in the GPA Dublin International Piano Competition in 1991 was the turning point in his career. «His performance brought a veritable roar of approval from the audience» wrote The Irish Times after P. Nersessian received the 1st Prize in the GPA Dublin International Piano Competition in 1991.
Pavel Nersessian's concert activity is very intense. He has been touring around Russia and surrounding states from the age of 8 and, since his remarkable successes in international competitions, has on several occasions given performances in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, New York City, Los Angeles, Paris, Cannes, Leipzig, Vienna, Budapest, Madrid, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Dublin, Munich, Caracas, Rio de Janeiro, Belgrade, Cairo, Kiev, Székelyudvarhely on May 29, 2016 and many others.
In 2004 Pavel Nersessian took part in a program "Almost jazz" in "December Nights" festival which was founded by Sviatoslav Richter in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts Nersessian, by special invitation from the Kirov and the Perm Ballet, performed solo part in Balanchine's Ballet Imperial based on the music of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 2 with performances in the Kirov, Bolshoi, Chatelet and Covent Garden. He also played a solo part in J. Robbins’ ballet “The concert, or The Perils of Everybody” on the music of Frédéric Chopin.
Pavel Nersessian is known for his collaboration with chamber music groups and other musicians, such as Borodin and Glinka Quartets, Russian National Orchestra, Thomas Sanderling, Tugan Sokhiev, Eri Klas, Saulius Sondeckis, Alexander Lazarev, Ken-David Mazur, Pavel Kogan, Alexandre Chernushenko, Mikhail Agrest, Pascal Moragues, Julius Milkis, Evgeny Petrov, Abel Perreira, Benjamin Schmid, Stepan Yakovich, Ani Kavafian, Andrei Gridchuk, Alena Baeva, Philippe Cassard, Yana Ivanilova, Nina Kogan, Mikhail Bereznitsky and many others.
Pavel Nersessian regularly takes part in various international music festivals and competitions; also he is frequently invited to be on a jury, for example: Dublin International Piano Competition (Ireland), Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition (Russia), Hilton Head International Piano Competition (USA), Valencia International Piano Competition (Spain), International Festival of Classical Music and Competition of Young Pianists( Kazakhstan), Sendai International Music Competition ( Japan), Isang Yun Competition (South Korea ), Summit Music Festival (USA), Miami International Piano Festival (USA) and others.
Pavel Nersessian has recorded numerous disks with compositions of Frédéric Chopin, Robert Schumann, Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Tchaikovsky, L.v. Beethoven, Dmitri Shostakovich etc. The album with compositions of R. Schumann's Kreisleriana, Op. 16, F. Chopin's 24 preludes, Op. 28, performed by Pavel Nersessian was released on at Moscow Conservatory in 1995.
In 2005 Pavel Nersessian became a merited artist of the Russian Federation. |