Piano

Alexey Botvinov is an exceptional pianist in our time. The most famous Ukrainian pianist, Botvinov is one of the best specialists in 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 N.2 or Rachmaninov N.4. He is probably the only pianist who performed Bach masterpiece “Goldberg Variations” 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.
Alexey Botvinov was born in all-musicians family in Odessa, where he studied with Prof. Mogilewskaja and later at the Conservatory of Odessa with Prof. Kardaschew. 1987-89 he was a student at the famous Moscow Conservatory with famous Prof. 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 he 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 1994-96 Alexey Botvinov lived in Düsseldorf (Germany), where he was asked to perform Bach's "Goldberg-Variations" and 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" 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 Bach, Mozart, Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Schnittke and Stravinsky. Brahms' "Händel-Variationen", some of Chopin's Nocturnes and Goldberg-Variationen by Bach are available on CD alphadisc (Superbe! Le Figaro).

In January 1998 he was invited to Prague to play both d-minor piano concertos by Bach and 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, Mozart's piano concerto in c-major KV 467. Both concerts were applauded with great enthusiasm.

The recitals he played in Switzerland and mainly at the Züricher Festspiele with works by Bach, Chopin, Fauré, Ravel and 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 Alexey 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 Rachmaninovs 2nd Piano concerto under the baton of Dimitrij Kitajenko in place of Christian Thielemann. In 2005 he played his debut recital at the Wigmore Hall London and in 2006 – at the Berlin Philharmony.

During 2006 he was on tour in China with Zuercher Kammerorchester with works of Mozart and Shostakovitch under the baton of Howard Griffiths and with Koenigliche Philharmonie Flandern conducted by Daniele Callegari he toured most successfully in Belgium and Germany playing Rachmaninovs 2nd piano concerto. Every concert of Asian tour in October 2007 (Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur ,Jakarta, Taiwan) was finishing with standing ovation.
Since 2009 Alexey Botvinov is artistic director at the Opera House Odessa.