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My Take
Vladimir Ashkenazy is one of those artists who makes you rethink what it means to be a musician — the man is a world-class pianist, a serious conductor, and a composer, all at once, which feels almost unfair. Born in Soviet Russia in 1937, he eventually defected and became an Icelandic citizen, which tells you everything about his refusal to let borders or politics define him. His recordings of Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Beethoven have that rare quality where the technique is obviously staggering but it never gets in the way of the feeling — you hear a human being, not a machine. Winning the Queen Elisabeth Competition back in 1956 was just the opening chapter of a career that spans decades and continents. I find his conducting work underrated compared to his piano legacy, but honestly both deserve your time.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Vladimir Ashkenazy
- Name (Japanese)
- ウラディーミル・アシュケナージ
- Reading
- うらでぃーみる・あしゅけなーじ
- Born
- July 6, 1937 (age 89)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Ox
- Origin
- Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia
- Occupation
- classical pianist / conductor / composer / pianist / cadenza
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- Order of Merit of Berlin
- 2009 Artis Bohemiae Amicis Medal
- 1956 laureate of the Queen Elisabeth Competition
- honorary doctor of the University of Sydney
- 2015 honorary doctor of the Royal College of Music
- Sibelius Medal
- 2018 Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon
- Order of the Falcon
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Vladimir Ashkenazy born?
Born July 6, 1937 (age 89).
Where is Vladimir Ashkenazy from?
Vladimir Ashkenazy is from Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia.
What does Vladimir Ashkenazy do?
Vladimir Ashkenazy works as classical pianist, conductor, composer, pianist, cadenza.
Classical pianist — see all → · Conductor — see all → · More people from Russia →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.