Maxim Vengerov - Chairman of the Jury
Violin and viola virtuoso, conductor and educator, one of the most
outstanding musicians of our time. Extensively travelling the world and
visiting numerous music venues, he is permanently on the move. He also
constantly strives to perfect his musical expression, which propensity
he seeks in his students, too. Music absorbs him completely. With his
passion, he could captivate even the deaf…
Maxim Vengerov was born on 20 August
1974 in Novosibirsk, Russia. His mother was a singer, and his father
the 1st oboe player with the local philharmonic. At the age of 5, he
began studying the violin with Galina Tourkhaninova, and two years
later – with Zakhar Bron. 1984 saw the 10-year-old Maxim go abroad for
the first time; in Lublin, Poland, he won the 1st prize at
International Karol Lipiński and Henryk Wieniawski Young Violin Player
Competition (years later, he recalled: I thought Poland was somewhere
at the end of the world. One does not forget such trips; no wonder I
always remember Poland very fondly…) In 1990, he proved his
extraordinary talent with victory at the International Carl Flesch
Competition in London. At the time, he had already studied with Z. Bron
in London and Lübeck. His public appearances – both solo and with
orchestras – at major European music venues sparked interest of major
record labels (to date, he has recorded close to 100 compositions or
cycles) and music magazines. Numerous recording prizes and “Artist of
the Year” titles (incl. one from “Grammophone”) followed, as did the
celebrated Grammy Award, Edison Award (for the recording of
Shostakovich Second Concerto), and the highly prestigious “Echo
Klassik” annual distinction awarded to him by the German Television in
2003 (for recital feat. compositions by J. S. Bach).
“Playing by Heart”, a Channel 4 production about the virtuoso’s meetings with young musicians during his master classes, which was shown at the Cannes Festival in 1999, enjoyed tremendous popularity throughout the world.
Contacts with Mstislav Roztropovich, Daniel Barenboim or Vag Papian, as well as performances with the world’s most famous orchestras, like the Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, the BBC Philharmonic or the Chicago Symphony, exerted profound influence upon Maxim Vengerov’s artistic progress and development of his musical skills. The artist took a two-year course in the Baroque violin and repertoire of the epoch. However, he does not restrict himself to the violin alone; these are also the viola, jazz improvisation, dance, and finally, conducting that have caught his attention. Since the earliest stages of his career, he has been playing various Stradivari instruments; at present, it is the 1727 “Ex-Kreutzer”. Since 2005, Maxim Vengerov has been Professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
In 1997, he became UNICEF’s Envoy for Music and has met and performed for children in such places, as Uganda, Thailand or Kosovo.
Recently, the artist has also renewed and consolidated his ties with Poland. He has been performing with the Sinfonia Varsovia, the Sinfonietta Cracovia and the Baltic Philharmonic. In October 2006, his concert with the Sinfonia Varsovia conducted by Andrzej Boreyko closed the 13th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in Poznań. In October 2011, Maxim Vengerov was a chairman of the jury at the 14th edition of the competition. In 2016 he will chair the jury of 15th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition.
Photo galleries:
A Special Concert of 14th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition.
Poznań, A. Mickiewicz Auditorium. 23 October 2011. Phot. RR Studio
(see photos, watch a video, listen to mp3) >
Photo gallery of 14th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition (8-23 October 2011) >
Maxim Vengerov's and Vag Papian's recital. Poznań, Adam Mickiewicz Auditorium, 21 September 2012. Phot. Waldemar Wylegalski. (more information about the concert) >
Contract sign ceremony - Maxim Vengerov will chair the jury of 15th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in 2016. Poznań, Lubrański Hall, 21 September 2012.
