Vladimir Spivakov

Vladimir Spivakov is famous in
Russia as one of the eminent violinists, the founder and conductor of
"Moscow virtuosi" chamber orchestra and as a new Principal conductor
and Music Director of Russian National Orchestra, established by Mikhail Pletnev.
Spivakov is world famous for his brilliant performances as recitalist, guest
soloist and guest conductor of leading orchestras throughout the world and for
his humanistic activities. He played with a great number of orchestras, under
Bernstein, Solti, Ozawa, Maazel, Abbado, Giulini.

Maestro Spivakov started his music
career as a student of Yuri Yankelevich at the Moscow Conservatory. While still
in his 20-ties, Vladimir Spivakov won prizes in several competitions, as Gene
Paganini Competition, Montreal International and Tchaikovsky Competition. In
1979, Soon after his debut as a conductor with Chicago Symphony Orchestra in
Ravinia music festival, Spivakov founded "Moscow Virtuosi" chamber
orchestra, which quickly became one of the world leading chamber orchestras. Moscow Virtuosi, group originally
made of Russia's international prize winners, very rapidly gained a sound
international reputation, giving more than 120 concerts a year throughout the
world.

 In 1989 Mr. Spivakov was appointed as Artistic
Director of the Colmar International Festival in France, which has since become
one of Europe's leading music festivals.

In
May 1994 Maestro established the Vladimir Spivakov International Charity
Foundation to support young talented musicians, painters and dancers in Russia.
Since its inception 500 young musicians have received support, in a form of
musical instruments, art supplies and ballet equipment in addition to receiving
an academic education. The Spivakov Project also provides medical care for
critically ill children and wheelchairs for disabled young people.. He has worked on behalf of victims
of the Stalin regime and children who suffered from the nuclear disaster in
Chernobyl.

Mr. Spivakov has made more than 20
recordings for the BMG/RCA Red Seal label of works ranging from Bach, Haydn and
Mozart to Shostakovich, Schnittke and Shchedrin. Also for RCA Red Seal, he has
recorded concertos by Brahms, Prokofiev, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky.

Mr. Spivakov has been decorated with
Russia's highest prize, the National Cultural Heritage Award, and is Ambassador
of the Arts for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

On his birthday, September 12 1994,
Russia's International Observatory named after him a star -
"Spivakov".

In 1999, France officially
recognized his contribution to the influence of music and culture by awarding
him the title of "Officier des Arts et des Lettres" (Officer of Arts
and Letters).

The first live concert with Spivakov
I attended in Moscow Conservatory in 1994 (I hope I can get this correct from
my memory), where Maestro along with Vladimir Kniazev soloed in Brahms double
concerto with Russian National Orchestra, under Mikhail Pletnev. All the
pictures on this page were taken by my husband, Boris Baryshnikov (more fun
pictures you can find here), after "Moscow Virtuosi"'s concert in
Wheaton College, Wheaton, Il in April 2000. This concert gathered together
quite a number of Russian-speaking people. All of us were delighted to see the
same warmth of Spivakov's brilliant music interpretation, as well as unassuming
generosity to the listeners. We were lucky to get his autograph which I am
proudly presenting (to be added) here and take a part in the press-conference
after the concert.