Vladimir Spivakov, an outstanding violinist and conductor, has brightly realized his multifaceted talent in the music art and in various fields of social life. As a violinist, Vladimir Spivakov received brilliant education with Yuri Yankelevich, the renowned professor of the Moscow Conservatory. Not less was the impact of his second teacher and idol, David Oistrakh, one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century.
While still very young, Vladimir Spivakov was awarded high prizes at several important international contests, such as the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris (1965), the Paganini Competition in Genoa (1967), the Montreal International Competition (1969) and the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (1970).
In 1975, following his triumphal recitals in the USA, Vladimir Spivakov started his brilliant international career. He performed as soloist with the most prominent symphony orchestras in the world.
In 1979, Vladimir Spivakov, together with some of his colleagues who shared his flair for chamber music, formed a new chamber orchestra named “Moscow Virtuosi” and has been its artistic director, conductor and soloist ever since. He studied conducting with Professor Israel Gusman in Russia as well as with great Leonard Bernstein and Lorin Maazel in the USA. Leonard Bernstein presented him with his own conducting stick as a sign of friendship and confidence in Spivakov’s future conducting career.
As chamber and symphony orchestra conductor, Vladimir Spivakov has appeared in the world’s most important concert venues and conducted European and American orchestras.
He has recorded extensively both as soloist and conductor, and his over 50 compact discs were mostly recorded with the BMG Classics, RCA Red Seal and Capriccio. Many of the releases received prestigious awards, including Diapason D’Or.
Vladimir Spivakov was the founder of the International Colmar Music Festival (France) in 1989 and he also founded the “Vladimir Spivakov Invites...” festival. He has taken part as a jury member in many well-known international competitions (e.g., in Paris, Genoa, London, Montreal). In 2002, he chaired the Jury of the Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition in Moscow.
For many years Vladimir Spivakov has been involved in humanitarian and charity activities. In 1994, he founded the Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation to support youth talent. Through the years of its existence, the Foundation has furnished tangible assistance to hundreds of children and young talents.
Since 2003, Spivakov has been Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the National Philharmonic of Russia and President of the Moscow Performing Arts Centre. Vladimir Spivakov was awarded the honorary titles of the People’s Artist of the USSR, Armenia, Ukraine, the Republic of Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, the Republic of Bashkortostan. Maestro Spivakov was awarded the USSR State Prize, the Order of Peoples’ Friendship, the Order for Service to the Fatherland II, III, and IV class, high honors of Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Armenia, Italy, two highest decorations of France, the Order of Arts and Letters (Officer) and the Legion of Honour (Knight in 2000 and Officer in 2010), and the Italian Order of the Star (Commander, 2012), as well as other decorations and titles.
