Piano

Pianist Vadimir Kraïnev, an outstanding musician, tutor and public figure in the field of musical culture of our time, has been fortunate in his artistic life.

His musical talent manifested itself early and received support from the teachers of the Kharkov music school. He continued his studies in Moscow, first at the Central music school attached to Tchaikovsky Conservatory, in the class of Anaid Sumbatian and then in the class of the great maestro Henrich Neuhaus. He graduated from the conservatory and did a post-graduate course under the guidance of his late professor’s son, an outstanding pianist himself, Stanislas Neuhaus.

Thanks to Kraïnev’s first prizes at the international competitions in Leeds, England (1962) and in Lisbon, Portugal (1963), as well as his brilliant victory at the IV International Tchaikovsky Contest in Moscow (1970) the music world discovered a new name.

His performances with famous orchestras, eminent conductors and outstanding soloists all over the world won to Vladimir Kraïnev the reputation of one of the best musicians of our time. It was to him that Alfred Schnitke dedicated one of his piano concertos.

One can hardly name a distinguished musical stage all over the world where Kraïnev never performed. Annual Vladimir Kraïnev Invites Festival takes place in Kiev (Ukraine). For 8 years now, series of concerts Vladimir Kraïnev, his friends and his pupils have been taking place at the Big Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Moscow (since 2002, under the title Vladimir Kraïnev invites).

The desire to pass on to his pupils his artistic knowledge has naturally become a new phase in his biography. Vladimir Kraïnev is a professor at the Higher School of Music and Theatre in Hanover (Germany). In his class he has young pianists from Russia and CIS, France, Germany, China, Korea, Japan and other countries. While studying, many of his pupils became laureates of prestigious international competitions.

In 1992, V. Kraïnev conducted in Kharkov the 1st International Competition for Young Pianists, which became biannual musical event. In 1994, he set up his International Charity Foundation in Support of Young Pianists. Vladimir Kraïnev is a jury member of international piano competitions in Leeds, Lisbon, Tokyo, Erevan, Shanghai, Taiwan, of the Tchaikovsky Contest in Moscow and of the Chopin Competition in Warsaw.

In 2002, he chaired the piano jury of the XII International Tchaikovsky Contest. Vladimir Kraïnev lives in Hanover, Germany. He is married to Tatiana Tarasova, the famous figure skating coach who trained 8 Olympic Games winners.

Vladimir Kraïnev was conferred the title of the National Artist of the URSS in 1990, he was the URSS State Prize winner in 1986. He is a recipient of the Older of the Badge of Honor (1980), of the Order of Merit before the Fatherland, Third Class (2004). He won the State Prize of the Russian Federation in 2003. In 2004, he was conferred the title of Honorary Citizen of Kharkov. Vladimir Kraïnev is a member of the Russian Academy of Humanitarian Sciences and Honorary Professor of the Shanghai Conservatory.

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