Following Russian pianist Pavel Kolesnikov’s Wigmore Hall debut in January 2014, The Telegraph gave his recital a rare five-star review and called it “one of the most memorable of such occasions London has witnessed in a while.” Since becoming Prize Laureate of the Honens Prize for Piano in 2012, Kolesnikov has been winning hearts around the world. A live recording of his prize-winning performances was released on the Honens label in March 2013, about which the BBC Music Magazine wrote “tremendous clarity, unfailing musicality and considerable beauty”.
This June, his debut studio recording was released on the Hyperion label to critical acclaim. The Sunday Times described his playing on this all-Tchaikovsky disc as having “affection and élan”. Significant recital and festival appearances resulting from the Honens Prize include Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, Berlin’s Konzerthaus, the Louvre (Paris), Vancouver Recital Society, La Jolla Music Society, Spoleto Festival USA, Canada’s Ottawa ChamberFest and Banff Summer Festival, and the United Kingdom’s Plush Music Festival.
Recent and upcoming orchestral appearances include Russia’s National Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira and Toronto Symphony Orchestra. London-based Pavel Kolesnikov was born in Siberia into a family of scientists. He studied both the piano and violin for ten years, before concentrating solely on the piano.
He has studied at Moscow State Conservatory with Sergey Dorensky. Pavel is currently studying with Norma Fisher at the Royal College of Music in London thanks to Evelyn Tarrant Scholarship supported by the Milstein Medal Award and a Karina Choudhrie Award, and generous support from Mr Christopher D Budden and Hattori Foundation. He is also a disciple of Maria Joao Pires at Brussels’ Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel.
Kolesnikov was named one of BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists for 2014 to 2016, a scheme that provides opportunities to develop live and recorded performances, including broadcasts with the BBC orchestras.