Artist

Vladimir Ashkenazy

Genre: Classical ,Keyboard ,Concerto ,Orchestral ,Symphony ,Chamber Music

Origin: U.S.A

Active: 1955 - Present

Biography

Born in Gorky—now known as Nizhny Novgorod—on July 6, 1937, Russian pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy rose to prominence through interpretations spanning Beethoven, the Romantic era, and Russian composers, while his programming reached as far back as Bach and occasionally embraced newer works. His father played the piano, yet it was his mother who nurtured his talent; he gave his first Moscow recital at age eight and entered the Moscow Conservatory in 1955 under Lev Oborin. A decisive early success came with the gold medal at the 1956 Queen Elizabeth International Piano Competition in Brussels. During Nikita Khrushchev’s Thaw he toured the United States in 1958; upon returning to Moscow he married Icelandic pianist Dody Johannsdottir. While on a 1963 British tour the couple defected, after which Ashkenazy launched a long-term association with the Decca and London labels that lasted for decades. He acquired Icelandic citizenship in 1972 and has maintained a residence in Switzerland. Conducting entered his schedule in the early 1970s; he later served as principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London from 1987 to 1994, of the Czech Philharmonic from 1998 to 2003, and of the Sydney Symphony from 2009 to 2013, while appearing as a guest with numerous ensembles, including Russian orchestras after the Soviet collapse.

Ashkenazy’s keyboard style is marked by brightness, incisiveness, and lucid articulation, qualities joined to an intellectual rigor that still permits expressive warmth; he maintains remarkable command of tonal shading. His extensive discography contains complete traversals of the Mozart, Beethoven (three separate cycles), and Rachmaninov (two cycles) piano concertos, together with the complete Beethoven sonatas, the principal piano music of Chopin, and Scriabin’s demanding sonatas. Even in later years his output remained substantial and technically ambitious, although public piano appearances grew rarer. Continuing with Decca, he recorded Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations, Op. 120, in 2007. The year 2011 alone brought nineteen releases featuring him as pianist or conductor, among them the demanding Mahler Symphony No. 6. For his eightieth birthday in 2017 he issued a new account of Bach’s French Suites, and labels continued to reissue his earlier performances. In 2018 Signum Classics released two live Rachmaninov symphonies performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra. On January 17, 2020, Ashkenazy declared his retirement from the concert platform.

Albums

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37

Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21; Nocturnes Nos. 1, 2 & 20

Piano Concertos Live

Bach: English Suites 1-3

J.S. Bach: English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: 8. Gigue

J.S. Bach: English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: 7. Gavotte II & Gavotte I Da Capo

J.S. Bach: English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: 4. Sarabande

J.S. Bach: English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: 1. Prélude

Tchaikovsky, Bartók, Schumann

Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances, Symphony No. 3

Lidström: Rigoletto Fantasy - Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2

Ashkenazy / Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 3, No. 2 & Fantaisie

Franck, Fauré & Prokofiev: Works for Flute & Piano

From Darkness To Light

Mozart: Clarinet Concerto K 622, Quintet K 452

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1

Bach: French Suites, BWV 812-817

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4

Schumann: Piano Works Vol. 6

Rachmaninoff: Sonata No. 2; Etudes Tableaux Op. 33

Scriabin: Piano Sonatas Nos. 3, 4, 5 & 9

Schumann: Kreisleriana; Humoreske

Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Nos. 7 & 8; Two Pieces from "Romeo & Juliet"

Chopin: The 4 Scherzi; Prelude, Op. 45; Barcarolle, Op. 60

Shostakovich: Trios 1 & 2; Viola Sonata

Previn: Piano Concerto; Guitar Concerto

Sibelius, Glazunov Violin Concertos

Brahms: Piano Trios Nos 1 - 3

Scriabin: Vers la Flamme

Rachmaninov: Monna Vanna & Songs

Rachmaninov: The Complete Recordings

Walking In The Air - The Music Of Howard Blake

Bach, J.S.: Italian Concerto; French Overture; Aria Variata

Remote Galaxy by Flint Juventino Beppe

Shostakovich: The Execution of Stepan Razin, Zoya Suite & Suite on Finnish Themes

Ashkenazy 50: Piano Encores

Ashkenazy 50: Ashkenazy Plays Chopin

Rachmaninov: Piano Trios

Chopin: Etudes, Opp. 10 & 25

Rachmaninov Rarities

Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio

Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5; Serenade for Strings

Shostakovich: Symphony No.5

Shostakovich: Piano Concertos Nos.1 & 2; Symphony No.9

Beethoven: The Piano Sonatas

Rachmaninov: 24 Preludes; Piano Sonata No. 2

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto

Elgar: The Dream Of Gerontius - Cello Concerto

Stravinsky: The Complete Ballets & Symphonies

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1; Symphony No. 4

Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture; Capriccio Italien; Romeo & Juliet

Rachmaninov: Piano Sonata No.1 / Chopin Variations

Russian Fantasy

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto & Octet in E-Flat

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30 & No. 4 in G Minor, Op. 40 - Sony Classical Masters

Rachmaninov: From the opera "Aleko", 5 Etudes tableaux & Scherzo

Ashkenazy Duets

Suk: Symphony No. 2, Op. 27 "Asrael"

Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Shostakovich: Piano Concertos

Rachmaninov: Symphony No 2

Chopin Favourites

Shostakovich: The Symphonies

Beethoven: Diabelli Variations

Ashkenazy plays Chopin

Bach, J.S.: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier

Rachmaninov: Moments Musicaux

Beethoven: Piano Trios 5-7, 9 & Variations on an Original Theme

Beethoven: Archduke & Ghost Piano Trios

Russian Cello Sonatas

Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet

Beethoven: Piano Trios Nos. 1 - 4 "Gassenhauer" & "Kakadu" Variations

Schumann: Piano Music

Grieg/Sibelius: Nordic Suites

Chopin: Ballade No.4; Polonaise-Fantaisie; Barcarolle; Berceuse

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2, Études-tableaux & Variations on a Theme of Corelli

Mendelssohn & Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos

Rachmaninoff: 24 Preludes

Shostakovich: Solo Piano Works

Enescu/Bartók/Szymanowski etc.: Works for Violin & Piano

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos.1 & 3

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 4; Russian Rhapsody for 2 Pianos

Rautavaara, E.: Piano Concerto No. 3 / Autumn Gardens

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 25 & 27

Chopin: 4 Ballades; 4 Scherzi

The Art of Ashkenazy

Chopin: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 - 3; 24 Etudes; Fantaisie in F minor

Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op.87

Chopin: Waltzes; 4 Scherzos; 26 Preludes

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos.2 & 3

Rachmaninoff: Klavierkonzerte Nr.2 & 4

Tchaikovsky: The Seasons; 18 Morceaux; Aveu Passioné in E minor

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos.14, 21 & 23

Chopin: The Piano Works

Rachmaninov: The Piano Concertos, etc.

Mozart: Great Piano Concertos

Scriabin:The Piano Sonatas

Beethoven: Favourite Piano Sonatas

Chopin: Nocturnes; Four Ballades

Schubert: Sonata in A, D959/4 Impromptus

Prokofiev: Pieces from "Romeo & Juliet" & "Cinderella"

Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1; Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise; Variations on "La ci darem la mano"

Rubinstein: Piano Concerto No. 4 etc

Chopin: Polonaises

Chopin: Piano Sonatas Nos.1-3

Scriabin: Symphony No. 2 / Piano Concerto

Chopin: Mazurkas

Essential Chopin

Beethoven: The Piano Concertos

Rachmaninov: Music for two pianos

Chopin: Favourite Piano Works

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos.5 & 7

Mozart: Piano Sonatas Nos. 9, 14 & 17, Fantasy in C Minor, Adagio in B Minor

Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Nos.6-8

Debussy: Violin Sonata; Cello Sonata/Ravel: Piano Trio

Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante; Cello Concertino

Shostakovich: Symphony No.2/Festival Overture/Song of the Forests, etc.

Brahms: Symphony No.4/Handel Variations & Fugue

Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia; Symphonies Nos.1 & 2

Chopin: Preludes, Op.28; Piano Sonata No.3

Rachmaninov: The Songs

Brahms: Symphony No.2/Dvorák: Serenade for Strings

Shostakovich: Symphony No.8/Funeral and Triumphal Prelude/Novorosslisk Chimes

Berg: Altenberg-Lieder; 7 Frühe Lieder; 3 Pieces from 'Lyric Suite', etc.

Sibelius: Symphony No.2; Finlandia; Valse triste; Romance

Brahms: Symphony No.1/Dvorák: Othello Overture

Brahms: Symphony No.3; St. Antoni Variations/Dvorak ; Carnival Overture

Stravinsky: Symphony in C/Symphony in 3 Movements/Symphonies of Winds

Favourite Rachmaninov

Chopin: 10 Waltzes; 7 Nocturnes

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos.9 & 15

Rachmaninov/Shostakovich/Lutoslawski: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini/Piano Concerto No.1/Paganini Vars

Shostakovich: Suite on Poems of Michelangelo, etc.

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 & Chamber Symphony, Op. 110a

Scriabin: Symphony No.3 / Le Poeme de l'extase

Gershwin: Piano Concerto/Copland: El salón Mexico, etc.

Richard Strauss: Horn Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 etc

Ashkenazy Live In Moscow

Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1; Piano Concerto No. 2

Shostakovich & Prokofiev: Cello Sonatas

Tchaikovsky Showpieces

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 6

Shostakovich: Symphony No.4

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4

Shostakovich: Symphony No.5/5 Fragments, Op.42

Beethoven: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-5

Scriabin: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1, 6 & 8; 4 Pieces Op.51

Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Tsar Saltan - Suite, The Flight of the Bumble Bee

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.1; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas

Rachmaninov: Cello Sonata; Romance; Vocalise etc

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos.2 & 4

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.3

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier"

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 25 & 26

Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit; Pavane; Valses nobles et sentimentales

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor"

Wagner: Siegfried Idyll / Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht

Dvorák: Cello Concerto / Bruch: Kol Nidrei

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Tchaikovsky: Dumka / Taneyev: Prelude & Fugue / Liadov: A Musical Snuff-Box / Borodin: Scherzo

Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet/Cinderella (highlights)

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Nos .5 "Spring" & 9 "Kreutzer"

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas "Moonlight"; "Appassionata"; "Pathétique"

Beethoven: Complete Piano Trios

Rachmaninov: Piano Sonata No.2; Etudes-Tableaux, Op.33

Tchaikovsky: Songs Vol.1

Beethoven: Symphony No.5/Overture Leonore No.3

Beethoven: Symphony No.6

Brahms: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2

Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances; Russian Rhapsody

Scriabin: Piano Sonatas Nos. 2, 7 & 10; 4 Morceaux, Op.56

Schubert: Piano Sonata No.17; Four Dances, D.366

Rachmaninov: Preludes Op.3, Op.23 & Op.32

Schubert: Piano Sonata in D Major, D. 850; 17 Dances, D. 366

Rachmaninov: Suites for Two Pianos Nos. 1 & 2

Mozart: Concerto for 3 Pianos and Orchestra (No. 7) in F, KV 242 'Lodron'; Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra (No. 10) in E flat, KV 365 (Fou Ts’ong – Complete Westminster Recordings, Volume 10)

Rachmaninov: Corelli Variations; Etudes-Tableaux, Op.39

Beethoven: Complete Piano Concertos

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8, Op. 13 "Pathétique"; No. 21, Op. 53 "Waldstein" & No. 26, Op. 81a "Les Adieux"

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23, Op. 57 "Appassionata" & No. 7, Op. 10, No. 3

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Chopin Recital at Essex University

Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Nos.7 & 8; 2 Pieces from Romeo & Juliet / Liszt: Mephisto Waltz

Scriabin: Le Poème de l'Extase; Piano Concerto; Prometheus

Franck: Violin Sonata / Brahms: Horn Trio

Chopin: Four Scherzi; Barcarolle; Prelude No.25

Brahms: Piano Concerto No.2

Schubert: Piano Sonatas Nos. 13 & 14; 12 Waltzes

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (Piano and Orchestral Versions)

Mozart: Piano & Wind Quintet / Beethoven: Piano & Wind Quintet

Ashkenazy plays Chopin, Ravel & Debussy

Schubert: Piano Sonatas Nos.13 & 14; Ungarische Melodie; 12 Waltzes

Bach: Piano Concerto in D Minor, BWV1052 / Chopin: Piano Concerto No.2

Schumann: Fantasie in C; Etudes Symphoniques

Chopin/Debussy/Ravel Recital

Vladimir Ashkenazy plays Tchaikovsky and Chopin

Live

Recital of Vladimir Ashkenazy. Moscow, June 9, 1963 (Live)

Tchaikovsky & Chopin (Live From St. Petersburg’s White Nights / 2012)