Alexander KNIAZEV, cello

Born in 1961 in Moscow, Alexander Kniazev started the cello at the age of six with Alexander Fedorchenko. He graduated from the Moscow Conservatory in 1986. In 1991, Alexander Kniazev got a degree at the Nizhny-Novgorod Conservatory as an organist where he studied with the well-known Russian organist, professor G. Kozlova. Prize winner of the National cello Competition in Vilnius, at the International cello Competition in Cassado, at the Chamber Music Competition in Trapani with the pianist Ekaterina Voskressenskaya, at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and at the Pretoria Competition (UNISA). He plays with conductors like E. Svetlanov, J. Temirkanov, M. Rostropovitch, Y. Bashmet, V. Fedosseev, M. Shostakovitch, N. Jarvi and orchestras such as: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bayerische Rundfunk Orchestra, Goteborg Symphonic Orchestra, Russian State Symphony Orchestra, Saint-Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, “Solistes Europeens, Luxembourg” and “Het Residentie Orchestra”. His partners in chamber music are Vadim Repin, Boris Berezovsky, Dmitri Makhtin, Nicolai Luganski, Brigitte Engerer, Laurent Korcia, Augustin Dumay and Marie-Joao Pires.

In 1999, he was awarded the title of the Musician of the year in Russia. During the season 2002, Alexander Kniazev appeared at the Tanglewood Festival, and with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as well as the NHK Orchestra in Japan. His latest appearance in France at "La Folle Journee", “Festival de Saint Denis”, “Nuits de Suquet” , La Roque d’Antheron and Sisteron, Menton, in England at the Harrogate Festival, in Portugal at Espinhio Festival were acclaimed by both critics and the audience. Last season was marked by a recording of complete Bach suites at Warner Classics (which received the best International acclaim from critics and shops), three concerts in Paris : recital with Nicolai Luganski at the “Theatre du Chatelet”, Shostakovitch N°1 Concerto with “ Ensemble Orchestral de Paris” and John Nelson at the “Theatre des Champs-Elysees” and in chamber music with Dmitri Makhtin and Boris Berezovski at the Louvre auditorium. One of the most spectacular events were recital concerts with Evgueni Kissin, in Festival radio France Montpellier and Verbier Festivals and a performance of the Saint-Saens cello Concerto with Maestro Temirkanov in Venice.

His last solo recital in 2005 in Paris Theatre des Champs Elysees was devoted to Bach Suites. This season, among important venues he will perform in Paris with Orchestra National de France conducted by Kurt Mazur, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris conducted by John Nelson, Tchaikovski Symphony Orchestra conducted by V. Fedosseiev on their european tour and in trio with Vadim repin and Bruno Canino for Repin' s Carte Blanche. With Berezovski and Makhtin, they will play on the stage of Concertgebow in Amsterdam and Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels in May 2006.

His recording (“Le Chant du Monde”) of Bloch “Schelomo” with Maestro Svetlanov and Russian State Symphony Orchestra received the highest awards. Kniazev' s CD of Max Reger's composition was chosen by “Repertoire Magazine” as the best interpretation of the composer's work. Trio B. Berezovsky, D.Makhtin, A.Kniazev, recorded a DVD of Tchaikovski Pieces for piano, violon,and cello and Trio Elegiaque “A La Memoire d’un grand artiste” presented on ARTE TV Channel and NHK in Japan. They received for this DVD the 4 stars Diapason. The CD (Warner Classics International ) with B. Berezovsky and D.Makhtin, Chostakovitch Trio n°2 and Rachmaninov Trio Elegiaque n°2 received several highest awards like Choc de la Musique in France, Gramophone in England Echo Classic in Germany.