Semyon Bychkov
Encyclopedia
Semyon Mayevich Bychkov ' onMouseout='HidePop("54188")' href="/topics/Saint_Petersburg">Leningrad
) is a Russian
-Born conductor
.
In 1973 he won the Rachmaninov Conducting Competition and was asked to conduct the Leningrad Philharmonic, a great honour in the Soviet Russia. His family suffered from official antisemitism and he decided to leave the country.
from the Soviet Union
. Bychkov attended Mannes College The New School for Music and was director of the Mannes College Orchestra. From 1980 to 1985, Semyon Bychkov served as music director of the Grand Rapids Symphony
and as principal guest conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
. He became music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic in 1985 and held that post until 1989. On 4 July 1983, he became a United States citizen.
. He became chief conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne
in Cologne in 1997, and held the post until 2010. In February 2011, he was appointed as Otto Klemperer
Chair of Conducting Studies at the Royal Academy of Music
in London.
Bychkov is married to the pianist Marielle Labèque
. His brother was the conductor Yakov Kreizberg
.
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
) is a Russian
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
-Born conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Childhood and studies in Russia
Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) to Jewish parents, Bychkov studied at the Glinka Choir School for ten years and later at the Leningrad Conservatory with Ilya Musin. During his studies at the Conservatory he played volleyball in the Leningrad Dynamo.In 1973 he won the Rachmaninov Conducting Competition and was asked to conduct the Leningrad Philharmonic, a great honour in the Soviet Russia. His family suffered from official antisemitism and he decided to leave the country.
Studies and career in the United States
In 1974, he emigrated to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Bychkov attended Mannes College The New School for Music and was director of the Mannes College Orchestra. From 1980 to 1985, Semyon Bychkov served as music director of the Grand Rapids Symphony
Grand Rapids Symphony
The Grand Rapids Symphony is a regional orchestra located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. At the end of its 75th Anniversary Season, the Symphony made its debut in New York City’s Carnegie Hall on May 21, 2005. The Symphony has presented concerts throughout Michigan and is heard on broadcasts by WBLV...
and as principal guest conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra located in Buffalo, New York. Its primary performing venue is Kleinhans Music Hall, which is a National Historic Landmark. Its regular concert season features gala concerts, classics programming of core repertoire, Pops...
. He became music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic in 1985 and held that post until 1989. On 4 July 1983, he became a United States citizen.
Career in Europe
From 1989 to 1998, Bychkov was music director of the Orchestre de ParisOrchestre de Paris
The Orchestre de Paris is a French orchestra based in Paris. The orchestra performs most of its concerts at the Salle Pleyel.-History:In 1967, following the dissolution of the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, conductor Charles Munch was called on by the Minister of Culture,...
. He became chief conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne
WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne
The WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne is a German orchestra based in Cologne. The orchestra was founded in 1947 by Allied occupation authorities after World War II, as the orchestra of Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunk . The orchestra later acquired the names of the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra and...
in Cologne in 1997, and held the post until 2010. In February 2011, he was appointed as Otto Klemperer
Otto Klemperer
Otto Klemperer was a German conductor and composer. He is widely regarded as one of the leading conductors of the 20th century.-Biography:Otto Klemperer was born in Breslau, Silesia Province, then in Germany...
Chair of Conducting Studies at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in London.
Bychkov is married to the pianist Marielle Labèque
Katia and Marielle Labèque
The French sisters Labèque, Katia and Marielle , form an internationally known piano duo. They have performed and recorded most of the repertoire for two pianos, spanning the instrumental, chamber, and concerto genres encompassing musical periods from Baroque through contemporary.Katia and...
. His brother was the conductor Yakov Kreizberg
Yakov Kreizberg
- In the Soviet Union :Yakov Kreizberg was born in Leningrad. He began studying piano at age 5. He attended the Glinka Choir School, where he began composing at age 13 and studied conducting with Ilya Musin. "Musin had an incredible system" Kreizberg recalled...
.