Alexander Braginsky

Biography

Braginsky's repertoire extends from Baroque to avant-garde. He performed over twenty world premieres, most of which were works commissioned and written for him, including music by Stephen Paulus, Libby Larsen and Paul Fetler's Piano Concerto, commissioned by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Braginsky performed extensively in the former USSR, Israel, England, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Taiwan, the People's Republic of China, Spain, France and the United States. The London Times characterized Braginsky's playing as "splendid" and the Chicago Sun-Times called him "... a pianist with a fine, commanding sound that he can also use with great delicacy and expression." Alexander Braginsky was born and educated in Moscow. He received his first piano lessons from his mother, a well-known concert pianist. At the age of six he begun study with Alexander Goldenweiser, a close friend of Leo Tolstoy and a classmate of Rachmaninov and Scriabin. It was through Goldenweiser, with whom he spent 12 years as his youngest student, that Braginsky came into contact with the great 19th-century romantic tradition. After Goldenweiser death, he continued to study with Theodore Gutman, another illustrious representative of the "Golden Age" of Russian piano school.

Braginsky's repertoire extends from Baroque to avant-garde. He performed over twenty world premieres, most of which were works commissioned and written for him, including music by Stephen Paulus, Libby Larsen and Paul Fetler's Piano Concerto, commissioned by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Braginsky performed extensively in the former USSR, Israel, England, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Taiwan, the People's Republic of China, Spain, France and the United States. The London Times characterized Braginsky's playing as "splendid" and the Chicago Sun-Times called him "... a pianist with a fine, commanding sound that he can also use with great delicacy and expression."

Braginsky has recorded for DDF, Sound StarTone and d'Note labels. He has appeared repeatedly on BBC, National Public Radio, RTB-BRT and other radio stations throughout the world.

Braginsky was artist-in-residence in Churchill College, England in 1981 and 1986. He is Professor on the faculty of the International Music Summer Course in Vienna, Austria, and has given numerous masterclasses in Europe, Asia and North America. Currently he teaches at the University of Minnesota School of Music where he is Professor of Piano and the Head of the Keyboard Division. Many of his students have won national and international competitions.

Braginsky frequently judges International and National Piano Competitions. He is the Artistic Director of the Musicians in Debut International (MIDI) as well as the Founding President and the Artistic Director of the International Piano-e-Competition.

Professor Braginsky's studio is usually full. Prospective students interested in studying with him are encouraged to contact him.