Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Nikolai Sachenko

Nikolai Sachenko
Николай Саченко
Photo of a woman standing between a man holding a cello and a man holding a violin
The Brahms Trio, from left to right: Kirill Rodin, Natalia Rubinstein, and Nikolai Sachenko
Born1977 (age 46–47)
EducationMoscow Conservatory
OccupationViolinist

Nikolai Sachenko (Russian: Николай Саченко; born 1977) is a Russian violinist. He was awarded the top prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998. Since 2008, he has been a member of the Brahms Trio, with pianist Natalia Rubinstein and cellist Kirill Rodin. In 2022, he joined the Borodin Quartet as first violinist.

Biography

Sachenko was born in 1977 in Alma Ata, the capital of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (now Kazakhstan). When he was six years old, he began studying violin at a music school in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.[1] He moved to Moscow in 1987 to study at the Moscow Conservatory, where he was sponsored by the New Names Foundation [ru] and trained with professors such as Igor Bezrodny [ru].[2] In 1995, Sachenko participated in the 3rd International Violin Competition Leopold Mozart, where he finished in 4th place and won the Audience Prize.[3] At the age of 21, he was named the top violinist at the 11th International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998, playing a violin made by the 18th-century French luthier Jean-Baptiste Salomon [de].[1][2] Russia dominated the competition that year: in addition to Sachenko, the pianist Denis Matsuev and the cellist Denis Shapovalov [ru] were awarded the top prizes in their respective categories.[4] Sachenko embarked on an international concert tour after winning the competition.[2]

In 2005, he became the concertmaster of the Novaya Rossiya State Symphony Orchestra [ru], conducted by Yuri Bashmet.[1] The following year, he became a soloist with the Moscow State Philharmonic Society [ru].[2][5] Sachenko has been a member of the Brahms Trio since 2008, performing with the pianist Natalia Rubinstein and the cellist Kirill Rodin.[6][7] The trio's focus is on infrequently-performed piano trios by Russian composers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[8][9] His performances as part of the Brahms Trio have received critical praise. Tully Potter, writing for Musical Opinion, commented that Sachenko's "focused playing is an unfailing pleasure",[6] and David Morrison of Fanfare described his playing as "eloquently expressive and impassioned".[9] In 2017, he was named a Merited Artist of the Russian Federation.[10] In September 2022 he joined the Borodin Quartet as new first violinist following the retirement of Ruben Aharonian.

As of 2021, Sachenko plays a violin made by the Italian luthier Francesco Rugeri in 1697 that belongs to Russia's State Collection of Unique Musical Instruments.[1] He has cited the violinists Yehudi Menuhin and Isaac Stern and the cellist Mstislav Rostropovich among his influences.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Николай Саченко" (in Russian). Novaya Rossiya State Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Kravchenko, Valery. "Саченко Николай Анатольевич (биография)". Kamchatka Krai (in Russian). Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  3. ^ "3. Internationaler Violinwettbewerb Leopold Mozart 1995" (in German). Leopold Mozart Kuratorium. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Russian musicians win first prizes". The Advocate-Messenger. Associated Press. 1 July 1998. p. C7. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Russian violinist holds master class for students in Bishkek". AKIpress News Agency. 30 October 2014. ProQuest 1618249761.
  6. ^ a b Potter, Tully (October–December 2021). "The Russian Piano Trio Tradition". Musical Opinion. 144 (1529): 15–17. ISSN 0027-4623. ProQuest 2582842814.
  7. ^ "Nikolai Sachenko (violin)". Brahms Trio. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  8. ^ Lacroix, Jean (16 March 2021). "Le Trio Brahms complète son panorama de Trios à clavier russes". Crescendo Magazine (in French). Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  9. ^ a b Morrison, Daniel (July–August 2021). "Alyabiev: Piano Trios: in E♭; in a; Glinka: Trio pathétique in d; Anton Rubinstein: Piano Trio in g, op. 15/2". Fanfare. 44 (6): 146–148. ISSN 0148-9364. ProQuest 2535462225.
  10. ^ Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 26.12.2017 No. 627 'О награждении государственными наградами Российской Федерации' (Report) (in Russian). 26 December 2017. p. 13. Retrieved 25 November 2021.