Clarinet Concerto (with Beethoven - Clarinet Concerto [arr Collins])

Mikhail Pletnev was born in Archangel, Russia, in 1957. His parents were both musicians, and Pletnev displayed exceptional musical talent from an early age. After completing his studies at the Central Music School he began his studies of piano at the Moscow Conservatory, in 1974, under the pianist Jacob Flier and then with Lev Vlasenko. In 1978, Pletnev won the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow. As a result he was able to make concert tours outside the former Soviet Union throughout Europe, Japan, the USA and Israel. One of the highlights of his career came in 1990, when he performed at the personal invitation of Mikhail Gorbachev for the superpower summit with President George Bush in Washington.

In 1980, while still pursuing his career as an international concert pianist, Mikhail Pletnev made his debut as a conductor in the former Soviet Union and went on to make guest appearances with many of the country's and later also international leading orchestras. In 1990, he founded the Russian National Orchestra, the first entirely independent orchestra to exist in Russia since 1917. Under his leadership, the orchestra soon achieved international recognition. It became the first Russian orchestra to perform at the Vatican, in a private concert for Pope John Paul II in 1991, and, shortly afterwards, it was the first Russian orchestra to tour Israel. The ensemble has since then also visited the United States and Japan and has been welcomed throughout the world as an ambassador of Russia's new era. In September 1999 Mikhail Pletnev stepped down from his position as Music Director and Chief Conductor and was named Conductor Laureate of the Russian National Orchestra. Future plans call for collaboration in the roles of guest conductor and pianist.

One of the great pianists of our time, Mikhail Pletnev regularly gives concerts and recitals in major cities as well as at important festivals in Europe, Asia and Russia. He has worked with conductors like Haitink, Maazel, Chailly, Tennstedt, Järvi, Thielemann and Giulini. In 1997 he performed with the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of Claudio Abbado at the New Year's Eve Concert in Berlin.

In 1993, DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON signed an exclusive contract with Mikhail Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra for a series of recordings. Since then, Mikhail Pletnev also appears as a pianist in recordings with DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.

In 1999 Mikhail Pletnev was appointed Conductor Laureate of the Russian National Orchestra, and in this position will continue his collaboration with the RNO as conductor and pianist. He also appears as guest conductor with such prestigious ensembles as the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.