Quick Facts
Biography
Vladimir Teodorovich Spivakov (Russian: Владимир Теодорович Спиваков) (born 12 September 1944 in Ufa) is a leading Russian conductor and violinist best known for his work with the Moscow Virtuosi chamber orchestra.
At the age of 13, Spivakov was awarded the first prize at the major conductor contest in Moscow. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory under Yuri Yankelevich and debuted with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1979. The same year he established the Moscow Virtuosi chamber orchestra and became the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor ever since. In 1984, Leonard Bernstein presented his conductor's baton to Spivakov. In 1989 he emigrated to Spain. Spivakov was named the People's Artist of the USSR in 1991. Three years later, he established the Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation to help Russian orphans. In 2000 he was awarded the Légion d'honneur for his work as an artistic director of the Colmar International Festival, for which he has worked since 1989. His wife Sati is a TV anchor. He has three daughters, Tatiana, Katia and Anna.
Spivakov is also considered one of the foremost violinists of his generation, having studied with Yuri Yankelevich at the Moscow Conservatory. He was a prizewinner at several competitions in Moscow, Paris, Genoa, and Montreal.
Spivakov currently serves as the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the National Philharmonic of Russia. He conducted the music for Garri Bardin's 2010 animated feature, The Ugly Duckling.
Honours and awards
- Honoured Artist of the RSFSR (1978)
- People's Artist of the RSFSR (1986)
- People's Artist of the USSR (1990)
- People's Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania (2005)
- USSR State Prize (1989) - for concert programs 1986-1988
- Lenin Komsomol Prize (1982) - for high performance skills
- Pan-European Munich Academy Award "for outstanding achievements in the field of musical art" (1981)
- Order of Friendship (1994)
- Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 3rd (1999) and 2nd classes (2009)
- Order of Merit, 2nd class (Ukraine, 2009)
- Order "Danaker" (Kyrgyzstan, 2001)
- Order of St. Mashtots (Armenia, 1999)
- Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters (France, 1999)
- Officer of the Legion of Honour (France, 1 February 2011, previously Chevalier in 2000)
- Medal "Olive Branch" (Armenia, 2001)
- Order "Patrons of the Century" (2005)
- International public order "Golden Falcon" (2005).
- Honorary Doctor of the Moscow State University (2002)
- Award "Persons of the Year" in the "Idol" (2002)
- "Russian of the Year" (May 2005)
- UNESCO Artist for Peace - for his "outstanding contribution to the musician in the art world, his work for peace and dialogue between cultures" (2006)
- UNESCO Mozart Gold Medal (2009 )