Vladimir Feltsman

Vladimir Feltsman earned worldwide recognition throughout the twentieth century as a leading pianist, presenting interpretations of Johann Sebastian Bach together with Russian composers such as Alfred Schnittke and Nikolai Karetnikov. Appearances have placed him before every principal American orchestra, alongside numerous prominent conductors. His output encompasses extensive recordings, published writings, and influential teaching positions.

Moscow marked the site of his birth on January 8, 1952. An early affinity for music grew steadily, leading to a first public performance at age eleven as soloist with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. At fifteen he secured first prize in the Concertina International Competition in Prague, which opened the path to enrollment at the Moscow Conservatory. A subsequent first-prize win at the Marguerite Long Competition in Paris prepared him for engagements with major Soviet orchestras and festivals throughout the U.S.S.R. Recitals in that period reached audiences in Eastern Europe, France, Italy, Belgium, and Japan.

Summer 1987 brought permission to leave the Soviet Union, after which Feltsman settled in the United States. The PBS documentary Journey from Home: Vladimir Feltsman in Moscow records his return visit to Moscow following exclusion from concert venues and a moving reunion with his parents. Additional national broadcasts include 60 Minutes, CBS This Morning, and PBS' Live from Lincoln Center. Since arriving in America he has appeared with all major U.S. orchestras as well as the London Symphony and the NHK of Japan. In 1995 he established PianoSummer, an international festival and summer institute based in New Paltz, New York. During the 1996-1997 season he performed with the New York Philharmonic under Kurt Masur. Programs regularly feature Bach alongside new contemporary works, centering on the German tradition while embracing further styles. His personal interpretive manner has secured broad international regard.

In addition to live performances, Feltsman has produced more than sixty recordings. Five Bach albums on the MusicMasters label include The Art of Fugue and a recording of the late Beethoven sonatas Op. 109, 110, and 111. Further releases contain a live Moscow Conservatory account of the Goldberg Variations and The Well-Tempered Clavier Book II. With his wife Haewon he created the Feltsman Piano Foundation in 2012; together with PianoSummer the organization supports the training of young pianists.

Piano Lessons appeared in 2019, addressing elements of his life as a performer, observations on his recordings, and research on Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier. The next year he released the sixth volume in his survey of Schubert’s piano sonatas on the Nimbus Alliance label. He serves as piano professor at the State University of New York, New Paltz, and at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. PianoSummer resumed in 2022 after a pandemic-related suspension, while Feltsman sustained his recording activity with a Schumann album issued in 2023.