Andrei Gavrilov

Andrei Gavrilov or Andrej Vladimirovič Gavrilov (in Russian Андрей Владимирович Гаврилов, (born in Moscow, September 21, 1955) is a Russian pianist.

His first piano teacher was his mother (herself a student of Heinrich Neuhaus). In 1961 he continued his studies at the music school in Moscow with Lew Naumow. In 1974, at the age of 19 years and still being the youngest in its category ever, he won the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition. In the same year he successfully substituted for Sviatoslav Richter at the Salzburg Festival.

A more detailed biography of Andrei Gavrilov, who is living in Lucerne Switzerland since 2001, is revealed by his management agency/impresario in Austria: http://www.rbartists.at/gavrilov.htm

An excellent example of Andrei Gavrilov's virtuosity on the piano is his stunning rendition of "La Campanella", a transcription by Lizst of one of Paganini's violin concertos. Here Liszt brilliantly recreates Paganini's violinistic acrobatics. His trills create bell-like sounds. It is a very difficult piece, one that requires the rapid playing of awkwardly placed chords while also making considerable use of repeated notes.

Selected Discography

"La Campanella" as played by Andrei Gavrilov (an audiophile recording from 1977) has been recently re-released on CD by TOSHIBA-EMI CLASSICS Japan: TOCE-13215 (http://www.toshiba-emi.co.jp/classic/release/200511/toce13215.htm). Other (for any pianist extremely challenging) piano recitals by Andrei Gavrilov on this CD are: - Gaspard de la nuit (Kaspar of the Night); composed by Ravel - Islamey: an Oriental Fantasy; composed by Mily Balakirev - Six pieces for piano solo, Theme & variations, op. 19 no.6; composed by Tchaikovsky - Four pieces for piano, Suggestion diabolique, op.4 No.4; composed by Prokofiev.

Balakirev's Islamey: an Oriental Fantasy has the reputation, in the opinion of Jeremy Nicholas writing in Gramophone (February, 2006), as "the most technically demanding piece in the piano repertoire." Gavrilov's "justly praised 1977 recording (of this piece) combines daring, musicality and textual fidelity of a rare order."

EMI Switzerland lists a quite comprehensive discography of Andrei Gavrilov's at: http://www.emiclassics.ch/xml/6/3252077/discografie.html

However, Deutsche Grammophon has released 4 albums of Andrei Gavrilov as well; "search for" Andrei Gavrilov at: http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/