Mikhail Shekhtman

“Wonderful Mozart touch” – Herbert Blomstedt (Adventliche Concert at the Gewandhaus, 2016)

“Mikhail Shekhtman liefert mit dem hoch energetisch spielenden Concerto Köln den richtigen Klangteppich” Remy Franck, Pizzicato.lu (Graun CD)

One of the most versatile artists of his generation, Mikhail Shekhtman was born in Moscow in 1989 to a Russian father Yuri Antonenko and Jewish mother Elena Shekhtman, both being scientific researchers.His grandfather was a tenor, Avram Shekhtman.

Mikhail started to play the piano at the age of six and performed first solo concert in Moscow at the age of seven. Throughout 2004 - 2008 he studied at the Moscow State Conservatory Academic Music College with Professor Vera Khoroshina, the favourite female pupil of Heinrich Neuhaus (being the teacher of Sviatoslav Richter and Emil Gilels). He also studied organ with Professor Natalia Gureeva.

Subsequently, he continued studies at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory with Professor Pavel Nersessian, graduating 2013. Mikhail attended masterclasses by Michail Yurowski, Teodor Currentzis, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Elena Obraztsova and Dmitry Bashkirov.

Mikhail collaborates with soprano Julia Lezhneva since 2007. Together they perform  numerours recitals and concerts aroumd the globe - venues including Vienna & Berlin Konzerthaus, Amsterdam Musikgebouw, Melbourne Recital Centre, Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul, Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Hamburg Laeiszhalle, Luzern KKL,  as well as festivals, including Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Lucern Easter in Switzerland, Torroella & Peralada in Spain and Sviatoslav Richter’s December Nights Festival in Moscow.

In 2015 Mikhail made his conducting debut at the Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory leading Russian State Chamber Orchestra at the New Year’s Concert.In January 2016 Mikhail performed New Year Concert with Luzern Symphony Orchestra and Maestro James Gaffigan. In November 2016 Shekhtman performed Adventliche concert with Gewandhausorchester under Herbert Blomstedt in Leipzig Gewandhaus.

In 2017 Mikhail Shekhtman conducted period-instruments orchestra Concerto Köln for Julia Lezhneva's new world premiere recording of Graun Opera Arias on Decca.

In 2018 Mikhail made a debut with Russian State Symphony Orchestra ‘Evgeny Svetlanov’ (artistic director - Vladimir Jurowski) performing televised concert at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory. Mikhail performed Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 op. 15 as pianist & conductor as well as conducted overtures and arias featuring tenor Alexey Tatarintsev and soprano Dilyara Idrisova. As a pianist, in February 2018 he made a debut with Seoul Philharmonic and in May with Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

On July 2 2018 Shekhtman made a debut with Mariinsky Orchestra during the Festival Stars of White Nights invited by Valery Gergiev. On September 17 2018, Shekhtman  opened the season at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory with Russian Philharmonic Orchestra. February 9 2019 Shekhtman conducted 20 years of Oviedo Philharmonic orchestra. In Summer 2019 Shekhtman gives a reictal at the Bad Kissingen festival and in autumn 2019 debuts with Russian National Orchestra at the Tchaikovsky concert Hall.

Mikhail Shekhtman’s CD with Graun arias together with Julia Lezhneva has been awarded with 2018 Opus Klassik prize in German.