Famous pianist Denis Matsuev is known for his loud statements. “By nationality I am a Siberian,” he once said. This phrase aroused general interest, because the musician has a rather complex origin. Siberians, of course, can be proud of their talented countryman, because in a short time the name of Denis Matsuev has gained worldwide fame. The life of this wonderful person will be discussed in this article.
A family
Denis Matsuev, a biography whose nationality is of interest to many, was born in 1975, on June 11, in the city of Irkutsk. His dad - Leonid Viktorovich - is a pianist and composer. He was engaged in writing music for productions of the Irkutsk theater. The mother of the future musician - Irina Dmitrievna - taught the piano. The boy’s grandfather - Dmitry Leonidovich Gomelsky - worked as a percussionist in the circus orchestra of the city of Irkutsk. Pianist Denis Matsuev is a Jew, as some say. This statement is only partially true. The fact is that the musician’s grandmother, Rammul Vera Albertovna, is a really born Jewess. She managed to give the boy an elementary musical education and instill in him a love of art for life. Thus, the pianist is only a quarter Jewish.
Childhood
Denis Matsuev spent his childhood in his native Irkutsk. He still recalls Lake Baikal, loves to come to its shores and absorb the special energy of this place. Born in a creative family, a boy from an early age studied music. First, he went to the city secondary school No. 11 named after Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky and at the same time began to attend the local art school. At sixteen, Denis Matsuev, whose nationality is considered in this article, entered the Irkutsk School of Music. However, he quickly realized that his talent needed a more thorough cut. At the family council, it was decided to move to the capital. Parents understood that their talented son could have a very successful creative biography. Denis Matsuev in 1990 moved to Moscow.
First successes
The young man successfully passed entrance tests at the Central Music School, which operated at the Moscow State Conservatory. In 1991, he became a laureate of the International Public Charitable Fund called "New Names". Due to this circumstance, he already in his youth visited with concerts in more than forty countries of the world. The most important people came to listen to his virtuoso game: the Queen of England, the Pope and others. In 1993, Denis Matsuev, whose nationality is often discussed in the press, managed to enter the Moscow State Conservatory. At the same time, he spoke in the programs of the New Names public foundation, which were held under the supervision of Denis's patron Svyatoslav Belz. In 1995, the artist was accepted as a soloist at the Moscow State Philharmonic. This allowed Denis Leonidovich to expand the scope of his concert activities.
Popularity
Together with the victory at the Eleventh Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky International Competition, world-famous musicians came to the musician. This fateful event was adorned in 1998 by his biography. Denis Matsuev has become one of the most popular pianists on the globe. His masterly performances caused a great resonance in the world. The artist began to be invited to the most prestigious events. For example, Denis Matsuev spoke at the closing of the Olympics in Sochi. Many people became interested in the pianist's nationality. It seemed to them that such a brilliant talent could appear only in a person of special blood.
Origin
Feel free to share his views with the public Denis Matsuev. “The Siberian is a nationality,” he said in an interview with Vladimir Pozner. The artist considers the inhabitants of Siberia people of a special breed. He thinks that in those parts the spirit of the rebellious Decembrists is still preserved. Siberians are distinguished by their breadth of nature and independent disposition, the pianist believes. In addition, in these people there is a special strong-willed core. The musician sincerely loves his native land. Even the annual festival "Stars on Lake Baikal" he holds in Irkutsk is not accidental. Denis Matsuev, whose nationality is discussed all over the world, admits that he has Russian, Jewish, German, Estonian, Polish roots. However, in his heart he feels like a real Siberian.
Denis Matsuev says that he especially likes to speak to the Russian public. Gaining her attention is not easy, and therefore success in this field is especially valuable. The pianist traveled around the world and believes that in Russia the most cordial people and unusually beautiful girls.
Concert activity
Since 2004, Denis Matsuev annually presents his personal subscription. Together with the musician, the best symphony orchestras of Russia and abroad perform in it. In recent seasons, Lorin Maazel and the Arturo Toscanini Orchestra performed on the same stage with the pianist; Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra; Zubin Meta and Florentine Maggio Musicale. Together with Denis Matsuev, the Russian National Orchestra played under the direction of Paavo Järvi, Gianandrea Noseda, Semyon Bychkov, Mikhail Pletnev. The artist also actively collaborated with Vladimir Spivakov as a soloist and conductor of the Russian National Philharmonic Orchestra. The best conductors of the world consider it an honor to work with the famous Denis Matsuev. Among them: Yuri Timirkanov, Valery Gergiev, Yuri Simonov, Yuri Beshmet, Leonid Slatkin, Maris Yanson, Ivan Fisher, Kurt Mazur, Myung-Woon Chung, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and many others.
Social activity
Who is Denis Matsuev by nationality? Everyone can answer this question for himself. It is enough to evaluate the contribution to the musician in the development of national culture in order to understand that by nature he is a truly Russian person. The pianist strives in every possible way to interest young people in philharmonic art. He runs several charity projects. The artist heads the New Names interregional charity foundation. Since 2011, he has been an Honorary Professor at Moscow State University. Denis Leonidovich also holds the position of art director of the S.V. Rachmaninov Foundation. In 2006, the artist became a member of the Presidential Council on Arts and Culture. In 2012, he was appointed to the post of chairman of the Public Council under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. In 2014, Denis Matsuev, among many, signed under the appeal of cultural figures of the Russian Federation in support of the policy of V.V. Putin in the Crimea and Ukraine.
Personal life
The artist has never been married. In all interviews, he states that he does not suffer from loneliness and does not seek to get a stamp in his passport. In his free time, Denis Matsuev likes to play sports. The nationality of the musician does not affect his preferences: he, like many, supports Spartak, he himself enjoys playing football, bowling and tennis. The artist loves a Russian bath. He is a devoted fan of theatrical art, often attends Sovremennik and is friends with Galina Volchek. The broad nature of Denis Leonidovich requires an exit. The musician admits that during visits to his homeland he can’t breathe in his native Baikal, and sometimes he goes far into the forest to scream freely enough until no one hears him.
Conclusion
A very talented and subtle person is Denis Matsuev. The nationality of the musician does not matter. He does a lot for his country. In an effort to instill in people a love of music, the artist arranges all kinds of festivals and competitions. Moreover, he seeks to conduct them in different regions of Russia, so that all residents of the country can touch high art, hear the ingenious performance of the best musical works. I would like to wish Denis Leonidovich new creative achievements.