Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy was born on July 6, 1937, in Nizhny Novgorod, a city previously known as Gorky, to a family of musicians. His father, David Ashkenazi, was a renowned concert pianist in the Soviet Union, and his mother, Evstolia Grigoryevna (nee Plotnova),was also a musician. Ashkenazy's early exposure to music led him to study piano at the Central School of Music in Moscow, where he was only 14 years old when he premiered the 3rd piano concerto by Dmitri Kabalevsky in 1952.
Ashkenazy's exceptional talent and dedication earned him several prestigious awards and accolades. In 1955, he won the 2nd prize at the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, and in 1956, he took home the 1st prize at the Queen Elizabeth International Piano Competition in Brussels. He continued his education at the Moscow Conservatory under the guidance of renowned pianist Lev Oborin from 1958 to 1963.
During his time at the conservatory, Ashkenazy married his fellow student Thorunn Joannsdottir, and they had a son, Vladimir, born in Moscow. In 1961, Ashkenazy became a citizen of Iceland, a country that would later become his adopted home.
Vladimir Ashkenazy's remarkable career as a pianist and conductor catapulted him to international fame. He won the 1st prize at the Tchaikovsky International Competition in 1962, which led to successful piano recitals in London. In 1963, he emigrated from the USSR to Britain, where he began a successful career as a conductor. Ashkenazy was appointed Conductor of the Royal Symphony Orchestra in 1981 and served as Principal Conductor and Artistic Director from 1987 to 1994. Additionally, he was Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic from 1989 to 1999.
Throughout his illustrious career, Ashkenazy has held various positions, including Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in Prague, Czech Republic, from 1998 to 2003, and Music Director of the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo, Japan, from 2004. He is currently President of the Rachmaninoff Society and has been recognized with numerous Grammy awards and other international accolades for his studio recordings and concert performances.
Ashkenazy's interpretations of piano concertos by Sergei Rachmaninoff are widely regarded as among the best, and he has made many critically acclaimed recordings of piano music, including all concertos of Ludwig van Beethoven. His recording of 24 preludes and fugues by Dmitri Shostakovich earned him another Grammy award in 1999.
