Happy Birthday, Violist Yuri Bashmet!

He is widely regarded as one of the foremost international violists, performing regularly with the world’s finest orchestras and conductors

Today is Russian violist Yuri Bashmet's 71st birthday.

Born in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, in 1953, Yuri Bashmet received his musical education at the Moscow Conservatory under the guidance of Vadim Borisovsky and Feodor Druzhinin. His global musical journey began in 1976 after winning the first prize at the International Music Competition in Munich.

Since then, Bashmet has established an unparalleled career, showcasing his solo talents with prestigious orchestras such as the Berliner Philharmoniker, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic, and the Orchestre National de France.

Over 50 works have been composed and dedicated to him by contemporary composers like Alfred Schnittke, Sofia Gubaidulina, Edisson Denissow, Mikael Tariverdijev, John Tavener, Giya Kancheli, and Alexander Tchaikovsky.

In 1982, Yuri Bashmet expanded his artistic endeavors by taking up the conductor's baton. In 1992, he founded the Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra, consisting of exceptionally talented graduates from the Moscow Conservatory. This ensemble made history by becoming the first Russian group to win a Grammy Award in 2008.

Since 2002, Bashmet has served as the artistic director and principal conductor of the New Russia State Symphony Orchestra. His artistic contributions have been documented by film and television broadcasters in various countries, and he is the creator and host of the TV program "Station of Dreams."

Maintaining a deep artistic connection with Svjatoslav Richter, Yuri Bashmet assumed the role of artistic director for the renowned "December Nights" festival in Moscow following Richter's passing. Additionally, Bashmet founded and chairs the Yuri Bashmet International Viola Competition in Moscow.

He also established an international charitable fund that resulted in the creation of the Dmitri Shostakovich International Prize, awarded for outstanding artistic achievements. The list of prize recipients includes notable figures such as Gidon Kremer, Thomas Quasthoff, Viktor Tretjakov, Valery Gergiev, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Olga Borodina, Irina Antonova, Natalja Gutman, Yevgeny Kissin, Maxim Vengerov, Alexei Ratmansky, Yefim Bonfman, Denis Mazuyev, and Tan Dun.

Alongside these accomplishments, Yuri Bashmet has actively participated in numerous significant charitable events.

YURI BASHMET | BARTOK VIOLA CONCERTO | VLADIMIR FEDOSEYEV & MOSCOW RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | 1985