Denis Matsuev

Instrumentalists — Piano

Manager: R. Douglas Sheldon
Additional Management: Denise A. Pineau
Management Territory: North America

Denis Matsuev, the fast-rising young Russian pianist, made his Philharmonic debut in the Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra, which usually comes across as a perky work alive with jazzy energy and ornate piano writing. But Mr. Matsuev, wielding his athletic virtuosity and steely power, gave a chiseled, hard-driving yet transparent performance, matched in character and cool brilliance by Mr. Gergiev and the orchestra. The ovation was enormous, so Mr. Matsuev played an encore, showing his delicate side in a gently tinkling account of Liadov’s “Music Box.” —The New York Times

"His technique in this piece [Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3] is equaled only by a dozen or so pianists on the planet. That quality alone ensured success in this masterfully written showcase, guaranteed to bring audiences to their feet..." —Philadelphia Inquirer

"...Matsuev’s pianism has heroic force and finely calibrated control…” —The Independent

About

Denis Matsuev has become a fast-rising star on the international concert stage since his triumphant victory at the 11th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1998, and is quickly establishing himself as one of the most sought-after pianists of his generation.

Laureate of prestigious Shostakovich Prize in Music and State Prize of Russian Federation in Literature and Arts, Mr. Matsuev has appeared in hundreds of recitals at the most prestigious and legendary concert halls throughout the world.

Mr. Matsuev is collaborating with the world's best known orchestras, . . . such as the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony, London Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony, National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, WDR of Cologne, Frankfurt Radio and BBC Symphony, Philharmonia orchestra of London, Verbier and Budapest Festival Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala and Zurich Opera House Orchestra, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, NHK Symphony, Rotterdam and Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Israel and Helsinki Philharmonic and the European Chamber Orchestra; he is continually re-engaged with the legendary Russian orchestras such as the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Mariinsky Orchestra and the Russian National Orchestra.

Denis Matsuev appears regularly with the most prominent conductors on the stage today, including Lorin Maazel, Valery Gergiev, Zubin Mehta, Mariss Jansons, Yuri Temirkanov, Kurt Masur, Paavo Jarvi, Leonard Slatkin, Myung-Whun Chung, Antonio Pappano, Semyon Bychkov, Ivan Fischer and Adam Fisher, Gianandrea Noseda, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, James Conlon, Vladimir Spivakov, Mikhail Pletnev, Vladimir Fedoseyev and others.

Mr. Matsuev is a frequent guest of world famous musical festivals such as Ravinia Festival and Hollywood Bowl in the United States, BBC Proms and Edinburgh International Festival in Great Britain, Schleswig-Holstein, Rheingau, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden in Germany, Chopin Festival in Poland, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Mito Festival in Italy, Les Choregies d’Orange and Festival de la Rogue d’Antheron in France, Verbier and Montreux Festivals in Switzerland, Enescu Festival in Romania, Budapest Spring Festival in Hungary, Athens and Epidaurus Festival in Greece and Stars of the White Nights Festival in Russia.

Highlights of upcoming seasons include appearances with Israel Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta in Russia followed by tour in Israel under Yuri Temirkanov, Royal Philharmonic with Charles Dutoit, tours with London Symphony and Mariinsky Orchestra under Valery Gergiev in the US, Europe and Japan; the Los Angeles Philharmonic with Krzysztof Urbanski, Philadelphia under Gianandrea Noseda and a US tour with the Pittsburgh Symphony under Manfred Honeck, and to Canada for appearing with Montreal Symphony under Mikhail Pletnev; in Europe with Oslo Philharmonic and Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Swiss Romande and Luzern Symphony Orchestra, tour with Concertgebouw under Mariss Jansons and Israel Philharmonic with Kurt Masur.

Denis Matsuev also will appear with recitals at most prestigious concert halls of Europe including Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Salle Pleyel in Paris, Konzerthaus in Vienna, and Great Hall of Moscow Conservatoire among others. Return to World’s famous Musical Festivals such as: Ravinia Festival and Hollywood Bowl in the United States, Schleswig-Holstein, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, and Rheingau in Germany, Verbier Festival in Switzerland.

In December 2007, Sony BMG released a disc featuring Mr. Matsuev entitled Unknown Rachmaninoff, which has received strong positive reviews praising his execution and creativity.

Denis Matsuev's recital at Carnegie Hall in November 2007 was recorded and released in 2009 as an album entitled Denis Matsuev – Concert at Carnegie Hall. The New York Times praised his performance, writing “…his poetic instincts held fast in tender moments, with trills as thrillingly precise as one might ever hope to hear.”

In December 2009, the new Mariinsky Label released Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 3, which Denis Matsuev recorded with Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra in the Mariinsky Concert Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia. ClassicsToday.com (US) wrote “Denis Matsuev is an amazing pianist. He shapes the Third Concerto's fistfuls of notes with consummate mastery…”

In 2011 the Anniversary year of Franz List RCA Red Seal released “Matsuev List” album recorded together with the Russian National Orchestra and Mikhail Pletnev. The Independent rated this album as “Album of the week” and concluded: “This impressive double-CD of Liszt’s concertos, plus his Orpheus and Heroide, is an all-Russian effort. Matsuev’s pianism has heroic force and finely calibrated control…”

Early 2012 Denis Matsuev, Valery Gergiev and Mariinsky Label featured their new project of Shostakovich Concertos No. 1, No.2 and Shchedrin Fifth Concerto which granted the Five Star rating of BBC Music Magazine: “Denis Matsuev may be better-known internationally as a Rachmaninoff expert, but these new accounts of the two Shaostakovich Concertos must be among the best currently available.” Norman Lebrecht continued: “Neither is a virtuoso vehicle and, the composer apart, there is no pianist who has stamped these works decisively as his or her own. Denis Matsuev, a Siberian who made his name in Rachmaninov is perhaps the first to come close”.

Over the past five years, Denis Matsuev has collaborated with the Sergei Rachmaninoff Foundation and its president Alexander Rachmaninoff, the grandson of the composer. Mr. Matsuev was chosen by the Foundation to perform and record unknown pieces of Rachmaninoff on the composer's own piano at the Rachmaninoff house “Villa Senar” in Lucerne. This unique program has been in high demand around the world. In 2013 – the Anniversary year of Great composer the Serge Rachmaninoff Foundation will percent series of concerts in some of the most prestigious concert halls throughout Russia and Europe.

Mr. Matsuev is Artistic Director of three important International Festivals: Annecy Music Festival in Annecy, France, “Stars on Baikal” in Irkutsk, Siberia, and “Crescendo,” a series of events held in many different international cities, such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Tel Aviv, Kaliningrad, Paris and New York City. These remarkable festivals present a new generation of young musicians by featuring gifted soloists from around the world performing with the best Russian orchestras.

The “Crescendo” festival has had incredible resonance in Russia and abroad. Additionally, Mr. Matsuev is the president of the charitable Russian foundation “New Names” that supports children music education in regions of his native Russia.