Vassily Lobanov

Born in Moscow in 1947, Vassily Lobanov studied piano with Heinrich Neuhaus and Lev Naumov and composition with Alfred Schnittke; his mentors also included Sviatoslav Richter, with whom he occasionally formed a piano duo. Following his early years as a concert pianist in his native land, Lobanov received permission to travel abroad for the first time in 1978; since then he has performed at prestigious festivals and concert venues throughout Europe, the United States, Japan, and South America. As a chamber musician he enjoyed a close collaboration with Oleg Kagan and Natalia Gutman from 1978 to 1990; he has additionally partnered with Leonidas Kavakos, Yuri Bashmet, Eduard Brunner, Kolja Blacher, and Kim Kashkashian. Lobanov is a successful composer as well and has produced two operas, a symphony, and various concertos, among other pieces. Since 1997 he has taught as Professor of Piano at the College of Music in Cologne.

August 2011