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Vladimir Spivakov

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Vladimir Spivakov is a Russian violinist and conductor, born in 1944 in Ufa. He studied with Yuri Yankelevich at the Moscow Conservatoire and is regarded as one of the leading violinists of his generation. His name is above all associated with the Moscow Virtuosi, a chamber orchestra that he led.

Music and breakthrough

In the 1980s and 1990s many recordings appeared on which he plays or conducts. Among them are Four Seasons with two violin concertos by Vivaldi, a Carmen Suite from 1987 and performances with the English Chamber Orchestra. In this way he built up a broad classical repertoire, from Baroque to the twentieth century.

Influence

Later Spivakov became artistic director and principal conductor of the Russian National Philharmonic Orchestra. He also conducted the music for the animated film The Ugly Duckling from 2010 by Garri Bardin. In 1982 he received the Lenin Komsomol Prize and in 2006 he became a UNESCO Artist for Peace. His position in relation to Russian politics is controversial: in 2014 he supported a letter defending the policy on Crimea, and in 2022 he signed, together with other Russian artists, a letter against the invasion of Ukraine. Spivakov shows how a soloist can choose the chamber orchestra as a permanent conversation partner and so remain violinist and conductor at the same time.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to his recording of Four Seasons and notice how the solo violin relates to the string orchestra. Can you hear how the soloist determines the movement of the ensemble?

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists