… phenomenal Russian violist…
… violist of high origin descending from Primrose …
… a delicacy for gourmets. One asks to get to hear more of him…
Born Russian in Irkutsk, he first appeared as soloist at the age of six with the philharmonic orchestra of his home town. One year later he had the honor to attend the famous Central Music School of Moscow which, together with his succeeding studies at the Moscow Conservatory, ensured him an education of first class. Amongst his teachers were Y. Yankelevich, Z. Gilels, B. Bellenky and F. Druzinin, and Y. Bashmet, whom he worked with as an assistant for several years. “Bashmet was surely one of the most important influences for me” Gridchuk recalls today, “not only during the time of the joined teaching at the conservatory, but even more through joined concerts in chamber music, as soloists and together with the `Moscow Soloists` during several years.”
As a member of the Moscow Soloists Andrei Gridchuk appeared in the major halls of the world, until he won top prizes at two viola competitions (Soviet Union Viola Competition 1984, “Maurice Vieux” International Viola Competition in Orléans, 1989). These achievements paved the way for his remarkable performing career.
Since then, Gridchuk has been in demand as soloist, appearing with the Orchestre Philharmonic de Radio-France, Hamburger Symphoniker, Moscow Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatskapelle Weimar, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, Zagreb Philharmonic directed by conductors including Y. Bashmet, R. Barshai, M. Boemi, R. Chailly, O. Caetani, M. Janowsky, R. Kofman, K. Nagano, N. Pasquet, U. Schirmer, Ch. Thielemann and K. Penderecki.
Apart from performing his extensive solo repertoire, Gridchuk is committed to the performance of chamber music, working in partnership with N, Angelich, Y. Bashmet, B. Beresovsky, P. Frank, P. Ferrandes, S. Isserlis, L. Josefowicz, C.J. Kang, A. Knyasev, N. Luganski, M. Maisky, V. Repin, D. Sitkovetsky , the Borodin Quartet, Ierusalim Quartet, . He is a frequent participant of festivals at Verbier, Wasa, Tours, Koblenz, Menton and Paris (Louvre). His recordings of the trios for clarinet, viola and piano by M. Bruch and C. Reinecke with his partners R. Tudorache and T. Riolo (Pavane Records) have aroused great attention in the press reviews, as did his premier recording of the sonatas No.1&2 by N. Roslavets (Le Chant Du Monde).
Andrei Gridchuk plays a 1750 viola by Paolo Antonio Testore.
