Vladimir Ashkenazy (1937-)

Vladimir Ashkenazy made his debut as a concert pianist in Moscow in 1945.  In 1955 he won second prize in the Chopin Competition in Warsaw. Poland.  In 1956 Ashkenazy won first prize in the Queen Elizabeth Competition in Brussels, Belgium.  in 1962 Vladimir Ashkenazy and John Ogdon both won first prize in the International Tchaikovsky Competition.

Ashkenazy is noted for his interpretations of Rachmaninov’s music.  He is also known for his warm and sincere playing of the Romantic piano repertoire and sensitive and clear playing of the music of W.A. Mozart.  In the middle of his career as a concert pianist he took up orchestral conducting.  He still makes solo piano recordings and performs on the piano but he is busy conducting orchestras.

Here are three preludes by Sergei Rachmaninov performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy.  The first is the Prelude in f sharp minor op.23, no.1.  The second is the prelude op.23, no.4 in D Major, and the third is the Prelude op.23, no.10 in G Flat Major.  I hope that you enjoy this beautiful music as much as I do.