29 Facts About Yuri Bashmet

Yuri Abramovich Bashmet is a Russian conductor, violinist, and violist.

Yuri Bashmet was born on 24 January 1953 in Rostov-on-Don in the family of Abram Borisovich Bashmet and Maya Zinovyeva Bashmet.

In 1972, Bashmet purchased a 1758 viola made by Milanese luthier Paolo Testore, which he uses for his performances to date.

Yuri Bashmet began his active concert activities in 1976, with a tour of Germany with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra founded by R Barshay.

Yuri Bashmet has performed in leading concert halls the world over: in Europe, USA, Canada, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

Yuri Bashmet was the first violist to perform a solo recital in such halls as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Barbican in London, the Berlin Philharmonic, La Scala of Milan, the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire, and the Great Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonic.

Yuri Bashmet has performed under many noted conductors, including Rafael Kubelik, Mstislav Rostropovich, Seiji Ozawa, Valery Gergiev, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Colin Davis, John Eliot Gardiner, Yehudi Menuhin, Charles Dutoit, Neville Marriner, Paul Sacher, Michael Tilson Thomas, Kurt Masur, Bernard Haitink, Kent Nagano, Simon Rattle, Yuri Temirkanov, and Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

Yuri Bashmet started his conducting activity in 1985, consistent with his reputation as a bold contemporary artist unafraid of taking risks.

In 1992, Yuri Bashmet reconstituted the orchestra featuring some of the most talented young musicians of Russia who are graduates and postgraduate students of the Moscow Conservatory.

Yuri Bashmet is an artistic director and one of the organizers of the festivals in Rolandseck, and Elba Island.

Yuri Bashmet is a regular participant of the Promenade Concerts in Royal Albert Hall.

Yuri Bashmet is a founder and a Jury Chairman of the International Contest of Violists in Moscow, the only event of its kind in Russia.

Yuri Bashmet is the President of the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition in Great Britain, the member of Jury for the violists' contests in Munich and "Maurice Vie" in Paris.

Yuri Bashmet has participated in many large-scale charity actions of the international importance, in Carnegie Hall, in London ; in the concerts, whose proceeds were transferred to the funds aimed to help the victims of the natural disasters in Armenia, Japan, and to the funds helping handicapped children.

The International Charity Fund, established by Yuri Bashmet, has established the Dimitri Shostakovich International Award for outstanding achievements in the field of the international art.

Since 1978, Yuri Bashmet has taught students of the Moscow Conservatoire.

Since 1980, Yuri Bashmet has conducted master classes in Japan, Europe, USA, and Hong Kong.

Yuri Bashmet teaches summer courses at the Accademia Chigiana and at the academy of Tours.

Yuri Bashmet's students have won many of the international contests and now are performing in orchestras worldwide.

Yuri Bashmet leads national education projects, as a presenter and art director of the TV programs The Station of Dream and Music in the Museums of the World.

In 1986, Yuri Bashmet founded the Moscow Soloists chamber orchestra.

Yuri Bashmet consequently resigned his position with the orchestra, while inviting the musicians to return to Russia with him.

Yuri Bashmet re-established the Moscow Soloists, after returning to Moscow, with new musicians.

When he was a student, Yuri Bashmet was granted the Second Award at the International Contest of Violists in Budapest and Grand Prix at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich, attaining worldwide recognition.

Yuri Bashmet's artistry has won recognition in various awards and regalia in Russia and abroad.

Yuri Bashmet is an Honorary Academician of the London Academy of Arts.

In 1999, by the Act of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of France, Yuri Bashmet was granted the rank of the Officer of Arts and Literature.

In 2003, Yuri Bashmet was granted the rank of Commander of the French Legion d'honneur.

In 2003, Yuri Bashmet became the laureate of the "Olympus" National Award.