Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy was born on July 6, 1937, in Nizhny
Novgorod (Gorky). His father, named David Ashkenazi, was a popular
concert pianist in the Soviet Union. His mother, named Evstolia
Grigoryevna (nee Plotnova), was also a musician. Young Ashkenazy
studied piano at the Central School of Music in Moscow. In 1952, then
14-year-old, Askenazy premiered the 3rd piano concerto by Dmitri Kabalevsky. In
1955 he won the 2nd prize at the Chopin International Piano Competition
in Warsaw. In 1956 he won the 1st prize at the Queen Elizabeth
International Piano Competition in Brussels. From 1958-1963 he studied
at the Moscow Conservatory under renown pianist Lev Oborin. In 1961
Askenazy married his fellow student Thorunn Joannsdottir and they had a
son, Vladimir, born in Moscow. Mr. Ashkenazy became the citizen of
Iceland in 1972.
Vladimir Askenazy shot to fame after he won the 1st prize at the
Tchaikovsky International Competition in 1962. The same year he gave
successful piano recitals in London. In 1963 he emigrated from USSR to
Britain. There he began a successful career as a conductor. Since 1981
Ashkenazy was appointed Conductor of the Royal Symphony Orchestra, and
from 1987-1994 he was Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the
Royal Symphony Orchestra in London. At the same time, From 1989-1999
Ashkenazy was Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. From
1998-2003 Vladimir Ashkenazy was Music Director of Czech Philharmonic
Orchestra in Prague, Czech Republic. Since 2004 he started a three-year
contract as Music Director of the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo,
Japan.
Vladimir Ashkenazy is currently President of the Rachmaninoff Society.
His interpretations of piano concertos by Sergei Rachmaninoff are among the best.
He also made many other critically acclaimed recordings of piano music
including all concertos of Ludwig van Beethoven. He received several Grammy awards
as well as other international awards and prizes for his studio
recordings and concert performances. His recording of 24 preludes and
fugues by Dmitri Shostakovich brought him another Grammy award in 1999. Mr.
Ashkenazy is Conductor-Laureat with the Iceland Symphony Orchestrathe,
he is also Music Director of Youth Orchestra of the European
Union.
