On the eve of the anniversary
The world-known pianist
His name is on a par with the brilliant virtuosos of his generation - born in 1962. His path to music began early: at the age of nine, as a student of the Central Music School at the Moscow Conservatory, he first performed with a symphony orchestra in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. And in 1995, Kuleshov made his debut in the main hall of Carnegie Hall in New York - on the stage of the Isaac Stern Auditorium, one of the most prestigious concert venues in the world.
The brilliant performing school of the pianist was founded by outstanding musicians and teachers: Dmitry Bashkirov, Vladimir Tropp, Karl Ulrich Schnabel, Leon Fleischer, Fu Tsong, Byron Jainis and Earl Wilde.
Valery Kuleshov has many victories and laureates at major international competitions to his credit: a winner of the international piano competition Pro Piano in New York, USA (1998); a silver medalist and a winner of the prize for the best performance of a mandatory work at the 9th International Competition named after W. Clyburn in Fort Worth, USA (1993); a winner of the second prize with a special jury determination and a gold medal of the F. Busoni International Piano Competition in Bolzano, Italy (1987).
Valery Kuleshov performs in the best halls of Russia, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Great Britain, Finland, Australia and New Zealand, Japan and Singapore, Latin American countries. His talent is applauded at the largest music festivals - Radio France in Montpellier, Festivals in Colmar, La Rocque d'Anteron, Schleswig-Holstein, Rimini, Davos, Ravinia Festival in Chicago, as well as Russian Winter and Stars on Lake Baikal.
In addition to concert performances, since 1999 Valery Kuleshov has been teaching and conducting master classes at the University of Central Oklahoma (USA).
A special page in the musician's biography is the association with the name of the legendary Vladimir Horowitz. Kuleshov by ear deciphered and performed a number of unpublished piano transcriptions created by the great maestro. These ultra-virtual treatments were recorded for BIS and came out as a separate album "Horowitz's offering".
Hearing his own transcriptions performed by the young pianist, Horowitz responded with an enthusiastic letter,
"I am not only delighted with your fantastic performance, but I congratulate you on the finest hearing and enormous patience which you, listening to my notes, deciphered note after note and wrote out the scores of my unpublished transcriptions with."
Their meeting at Horowitz's New York apartment in 1989 was warm and moving. The maestro listened to the play of the young pianist, gave some valuable recommendations and offered free classes. But the unexpected death of Vladimir Horowitz did not allow these plans to come true.
Valery Kuleshov's art is based on the best traditions of the Russian performing school. His playing the piano is distinguished by sincerity and brilliant virtuosity, united with deep penetration into the author's plan and freshness of perception of the works performed.
The concert programme includes works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Domenico Scarlatti and Franz Liszt. Thus, the rich heritage of world musical culture will be united with modern performing skills.
The performance of a musician of such a high level on the stage of the Cultural Centre “Mir” is a sign of recognition that in 70 years, the Cultural Centre has become a place where world-class living art meets a grateful audience.
Prepared by Eleanora YAMALEEVA