Andrei Diev

Biography

Andrei Diev was born into a family with a strong musical tradition. His mother was a pianist, his father was a conductor (both graduated from the Moscow Conservatory), and Diev began his piano studies with his grandmother. He studied music began in Gnessin School in 1965, transferred to the Moscow Central Music School of the Moscow Conservatory in 1973 to study with professor Lev Naumov and continued his studies with Naumov when he entered to the Moscow Conservatory in 1975 (graduated in 1981).

Diev made his Moscow debut at the age of 17, performing the Grieg Concerto with the USSR State Symphony Orchestra, and two years later, in 1977, he won the All Soviet Pianist Competition. Diev won prizes at the Santander International Competition in 1978, and the Montreal International Competition in 1980. After completing a post-graduate course at the Conservatory still under the tutelage of Professor Naumov from 1982–1985, he went on in 1986 to win the First Prize, Gold Medal, Special Prize at Tokyo International Competition. This success led to many engagements throughout the Far East and most of Europe. The prizes led to engagements in Japan, Italy, Spain, Canada, United Kingdom, Turkey, Greece, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Bulgaria. Andrei Diev has appeared with the USSR State Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow, Leningrad, Zagreb, Sophia, and Cracow Philharmonics, The BBC, NHK, Tokyo Metropolitan, RAI, Scottish, and Montreal Symphonies, the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, and many others. He has worked with such outstanding conductors as Sir Gibson, Gergiev, Ziva, Otvosh, Sinaisky, Sondezkis etc.

Diev has performed as soloist and recitalist in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, the Royal Festival and Wigmore Halls in London, the Bunko Kaikan and Suntory Halls in Tokyo, Berlin's Schauspielhaus, the RAI Auditorium in Torino, the Sala Verdi in Milan, and the Megaro Hall in Athens, among others. In addition to his solo appearances with many of the world's leading orchestras, Diev has performed chamber music with such distinguished artists as Kaja Danczowska, Alexander Kniazev, Phllippe Bernold, Roger Chase, Vladimir Ovchinnikov, Andrei Korsakov. He has participated in such major festivals as the Russian Winter, Piano Forum (Torino), Soviet Piano Masters (London), Berlin Biennale, Concerti di Primavera (Genova), and the Santander.

Andrei Diev has taught at the Moscow Conservatory as Professor Naumov's assistant since 1988. He is also a professor at the International High School, and gives masterclasses at the Moscow Conservatory, The Royal College of Music in London, and throughout Russia, Japan, Italy, and other countries. His students are laureates of International Competitions, among them, Andrei Korobeinikov (winner of Scriabin 2004), Eduard Kunz (winner of many International Competitions), Pavel Dombrovsky, Dmitry Onishenko.

In 1992 he was a Jury member of the First International Tchaikovsky Youth Competition, as well as Jury President of the Siberia Piano Competition. In 1993, he became President of the Jury of the Safonov All Russian competition.

In 1990, Andrei Diev was invited by "Steinway & Sons" to become their list of Most Popular Performers "Steinway Artist".

In 1999, he was selected as The Musician of the Year, by Music Review and, in 2000, was awarded the Moscow State Prize.

His discography includes complete recordings of the Preludes by Rachmaninov (24 preludes) for Rossisky Instrument, and those of Debussy (24 preludes) and Scriabin (all 90 preludes) for BMG. He has also recorded works by Mozart and Prokofiev for Supraphon; Prokofiev's Concerto No.2 and works by Messiaen for Fontec; Roslavetz for Russian Seasons/Chant du Monde; and many others.

He is author of a number of piano transcriptions from the works of Cabezon, De Falla, Schostakovich, Prokofiev.

Reviews

The Daily Telegraph (London):

"Andrei Diev gave a dazzling recital of works, ranging from neglected sonatas by Soler to dances by Schubert, from Prokofiev to Messiaen. Mr. Diev has a wide interpretive range. He knows how to give Prokofiev's Sixth its acerbic edge and its contrasting melodic warmth, as well. Liszt's arrangements of Schubert were perfectly poised and wonderfully buoyant. Enthralling throughout."

The Chronicle (England):

"Mr. Diev's brilliance could only be marveled at. He is one of the best in the world."

L'Informateur (France):

"Andrei Diev is a pianist of great magnitude. His talent is the embodiment of the transcendental potential of art. His remarkable technique is aimed at revealing the secret of music."

"He plays, transformed by that which opens up to him beyond the boundaries of the notes, clearly revealing to us this secret without the least bit of falseness or demagoguery. He merges with the soul of the music and with the soul of the composer. Andrei Diev is a great pianist."

La Stampa (Italy):

"The solo part was played by an extraordinary interpreter, Andrei Diev, who demonstrated a magnificent technique and admirable musicality. Diev presented a marvelous reading; powerful and expressive, energetic and elegant, complete with a wonderful sensitivity to the breath of the musical phrase."