Mikhail Yuryevich Kotlyarov (born 19 June 1963 in Azov, Russia) is a Russian classical crossover tenor and recording artist.
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Biography
Mikhail Kotlyarov was born in Azov in 1963. His passion for music was obvious from the very beginning. In elementary school he performs a solo in chorus. At this time he enters music school where he takes a great interest in percussion instruments, plays in a brass band and opens parades. As a child Mikhail spends a half of his leisure time on hockey, he dreams to become a great hockey player one day. Like Valeri Kharlamov whose example is a source of inspiration for little Mikhail.
As a teenager Mikhail, inspired by Ian Gillan and David Coverdale, founds his own rock band New Time. In 1978 the band gains a prize at All-Union contest of variety performers. Mikhail makes progress as a drummer. He is invited in a new band. He accepts this invitation and the band goes to the Olympic Games in Estonia. After that Mikhail Kotlyarov comes to Moscow to enter the university. He successfully passes creativity competitions in Russian Academy of Theatre Arts, Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography and Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School.
Mikhail chooses to enter Russian Academy of Theatre Arts. Later he is obliged to leave the theatre in order to do his military service. Than he works with Natalya Sats during a year. At this time Mikhail gets acquainted with his future wife Natalya. A woman French by birth who will subsequently introduce Mikhail to Pierre Cardin.
Later Mikhail goes to work in Paris and enters Conservatoire de Paris to start his postgraduate studies. Galina Vishnevskaya becomes his teacher, mentor and friend.
Mikhail's wonderful career starts in 1990 with the help of Pierre Cardin who wants to show Mikhail's remarkable talent to a general audience. The first big performance of a Russian tenor is a charity concert in Château de Chantilly that has been organized on initiative of prince Romanov. In 1991 Mikhail receives an offer to record the Symphony No. 2 (Shostakovich) in collaboration with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Pierre Cardin introduces Mikhail Kotlyarov to Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, president of Opéra Bastille. Bergé asks Kotlyarov to take Hermann's part in The Queen of Spades. Thus, at the age of 29 Mikhail performs a solo on the world stage.
From that moment Kotlyarov is flattered by various offers and invitations: Grand Théâtre de Genève, Moscow Conservatory, The Capitol Theatre, La Scala Theatre, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in France, Vienna State Opera, Cannes Film Festival. He is an honored guest on festivals and concerts in England, Switzerland, America, Canada, Italy and Russia.
In 2005 Mikhail Kotlyarov records Rossini's arias in collaboration with Sveshnikov Choir and Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra. He gives concerts in Kazakhstan by request of the leader of the country Nursultan Nazarbayev. Mikhail continues his program and performs in Machiavelli Castle in Florence.
In 2008 Mikhail Kotlyarov is invited to appear on the stage of Russian National Olymp Ceremony. In 2008 he releases his new album with the name «Destiny».
One of watershed moments of Mikhail's career is his work in Los Angeles with Walter Afanasieff (he wrote lyrics for Michael Jackson, Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion) and jazz pianist and composer Harry Miller. Together they work on Mikhail's new album N‘ONE BREATHE. The manager of Mikhail´s project is Randy Jackson, producer of a popular show American Idol.
23 October 2015 Mikhail releases his new album Unity of Variety. He remains faithful to classical crossover and adds elements of popular and electronic music. The songs from this album are recorded in Berlin.