In 1978, when he was only twenty-one, the pianist won the Gold Medal and First Prize in the Tchaikovsky Competition, a recognition that propelled him onto the international scene.
In 1988, he was invited to perform at a diplomatic summit in Washington, which led to a friendship with Mikhail Gorbachev.
Throughout his career, he has committed himself to breaking down barriers through the universal language of music. In 1990, Mikhail Pletnev founded the Russian National Orchestra (RNO), the first independent orchestra in Russian history. His leadership as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor brought the RNO to the ranks of the world’s greatest orchestras.

Over thirty years later, he renews his commitment to artistic freedom by creating the International Rachmaninov Orchestra, named after the famous pianist, conductor and composer whose career has inspired audiences the world over.

A pianist of exceptional musicality and dazzling technique, Mikhail Pletnev’s concerts and recordings demonstrate the diversity and breadth of his repertoire, making him one of the greatest virtuosos of our time.

His recordings have won numerous awards, including a Grammy Award in 2005 for his arrangement of Prokofiev’s Cinderella. He was also nominated for a Grammy for Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes in 2004, and for Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (2003). His album of Scarlatti Sonatas (Virgin/EMI) won critical acclaim and a Gramophone Award in 1996. His recording of Beethoven’s symphonies and piano concertos (complete works on Deutsche Grammophon) was named “Best of 2007” by the NewYorker.

Mikhail Pletnev plays a Shigeru Kawai concert piano, provided by Kawai Europa GMBH.