ILYA ITIN

 

“…I’d go and hear him play the phonebook…” BBC TV

 

Since winning all the major prizes of the renowned Leeds International Piano Competition in 1996 Russian born Ilya Itin’s consummate pianism has delighted audiences on four continents. He has been praised for “his rare and exciting artistry” and “superb technique” (Daily Telegraph UK)

 

His performance in the final of the Leeds led to an invitation to perform Rachmaninov’s Concerto #3 with Sir Simon Rattle on his farewell tour of Europe with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. “The perfect pianist Ilya Itin succeeded in transforming the romantic revelry of Rachmaninov into rhythmic force and compactness” (Der Standard Wien Austria)

 

In recent seasons his wide ranging repertoire from Bach to Messiaen has been applauded throughout Europe, the Americas and in Asia performing with orchestras including London Phlharmonic, Philharmonia,Cleveland Symphony,Prague Symphony, St Petersburg Philharmonic and Tokyo Philharmonic. He has collaborated with such conductors as Dohnanyi, Jarvi, Kreizberg, Pletnev, Sinaysky, Polyansky and Tovey.

 

He has been performing throughout the USA; touring with the Jerusalem Camerata,performing at the Kennedy Center Washington. “A delicious and rare talent”(Washington Post) and the Mostly Mozart Festival in Lincoln Center New York as well as other major festivals from Miami International Piano Festival in Florida to Mainly Mozart Festival in California. Last summer Mr.Itin was invited to perform at the Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Festival in Trento, Italy. He also made his conducting debut with the Chamber Orchestra of Uppsala, Sweden in a much admired performance of 1st Concerto by Shostakovich as well as his debut at Theatre des Champs Elysees Paris, France “He plays marvelously with all his body and soul:a very great pianist and musician”(Le Figaro Paris)

 

His recordings include Beethoven Concerto #2 with the Jerusalem Camerata released by JDR, various recordings and videos of Miami International Piano Festival released by VAI. Future projects include recordings of music by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Prokofiev.

 

Born in Ekaterinburg, Mr. Itin studied with Natalia Litvinova at the Music School for gifted children.He graduated from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Consevatory with highest honours where his teacher was Lev Naumov. He has lived in the USA since 1990 and has studied with Yin Cheng Zong and has also been a grateful recepient of support from Miami based Patrons of Exceptional Artists.