Sergei Nakariakov
Sergei Nakariakov has broken through more than a few of the perceived boundaries framing the world of the trumpet in classical music. Dubbed “The Paganini of the trumpet” by the Finnish press after a performance at the Korsholm Festival when he was only 13 years old, Sergei has developed a unique musical voice, which is much more than a vehicle for astonishing virtuosity. His repertoire includes not only the entire range of original literature for the trumpet, but is continually expanding into broader territories, including many fascinating transcriptions, while he searches for ever new means of musical expression. At the same time, he has single-handedly brought the flügelhorn to prominence on the concert platform. At the age of ten Sergei started to perform with orchestras in major concert halls of the Soviet Union. In 1988 he obtained a diploma at a brass competition for adults. It became clear that in order to develop his caeer and to be able to travel, he had to leave the Soviet Union, so his family decided to move to Israel in order to give him the liberty to travel. Since then he has appeared in many of the world’s leading centres of music, including the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, the Lincoln Center in New York, the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Nakariakov performs in festivals in most European countries. He tours for several weeks each year in Japan and also appears as guest soloist in the United States and Canada. He collaborates with the world’s most celebrated musicians, orchestras and conductors. His international touring schedule includes performances in the foremost concert series all over the world, both with orchestra and in recital – accompanied by his sister pianist Vera Okhotnikova or Belgian pianist Maria Meerovitch.
In 2002 Sergei Nakariakov received the ECHO Klassik Award as instrumentalist of the year from the German Phono-Academy. In 2006 Sergei Nakariakov premiered “ad absurdum” with the Munich Chamber Orchestra, a concerto specially composed for the artist by Jörg Widmann, which features his unusual circular breathing capabilities. Sergei Nakariakov served as a member of the jury at the “BBC Young Musician of the Year 2006” Competition at Newcastle Gateshead in England.
Sergei Nakariakov’s discography with Teldec Classics International (Warner) has drawn the most enthusiastic public and critical acclaim. It entails the most famous trumpet concertos, as well as two recital albums of virtuoso music for trumpet by Bizet, Paganini, de Falla, Gershwin and Rimski-Korsakov with pianist Alexander Markovitch. In Japan he appeared in the romantic film “Taiga-no itteki”, playing a Russian trumpet player. He also played in the soundtrack of the film.
Sergei Nakariakov plays instruments by Antoine Courtois, Paris.
Press comments:
“Sergei Nakariakov plays the trumpet the way the rest of us breathe – if we are lucky”San Fransisco Chronicle
“Nakariakov, produces a sound that belies the cold brass of his instrument. He just puts the horn to his lips andmakes it sing, and his multiple-tongueing techniques are so smooth it is easy to see why he has been called ‘the Paganini of the trumpet’.” Santa Barbara News-Press
