Alexander Braginsky
| Alexander Braginsky | |
|---|---|
.png) Braginsky in 2003. | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
May 29, 1944 Russia |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, teacher |
| Instruments | Piano |
Alexander Iosifovich Braginsky (Russian: Александр Иосифович Брагинский, Aleksandr Iosifovič Braginskij; May 29, 1944) is a Russian-born pianist, living in America.
Life and work
He studied at the Moscow conservatory with Alexander Borisovich Goldenweiser, and, after Goldenweiser's death in 1961, with Theodore Gutman. In the early 1970s, he left Russia with his wife, Tatiana Remenikova, never to visit again until 2004. After first spending a couple of years in the United Kingdom he then moved to the USA.
He teaches piano at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and at the Hamline University, St. Paul.
In addition to his teaching schedule, Braginsky continues to perform, mostly as a soloist and a chamber musician (with his cellist wife).
He has recorded a number of works, including Shostakovich's 24 Preludes (op.34), Piano Sonata No.2 (op.61), and Sonata for Violoncello and Piano (op.40). A number of composers had their works premiered by Braginsky, including the Minnesota-based Stephen Paulus and Libby Larsen.
Braginsky realized the possibility of combining his piano artistry with the computer technology of the late 1980s, adding a novel dimension to his performances.[1] In 2002 Braginsky founded the international Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition[2] that occurs every two years and features the Disklavier-Pro pianos, produced by Yamaha. Braginsky has served on the juries of prominent competitions worldwide.
He has taught a number of pianists, some receiving critical acclaim.[3]