Biography

Sergei Nakariakov has broken through more

than a few of the perceived boundaries framing the world of the trumpet

in classical music. Dubbed "The Paganini of the trumpet" by the Finnish

press after a performance at the Korsholm Festival when he was only 13

years old, and in 1997 "Caruso of the Trumpet" by Musik und Theater,

Sergei has developed a unique musical voice, which is, much more than a

vehicle for astonishing virtuosity. His repertoire includes not only the

entire range of original literature for the trumpet; but is continually

expanding into broader territories, including many fascinating

transcriptions, while he searches for ever new means of musical

expression. At the same time, he has single-handedly brought the

flügelhorn to prominence on the concert platform.

Born in Gorky in 1977, Sergei began to play the piano when he was six

years old, but moved on to the trumpet, after a spine injury in 1986

curtailed his piano studies. In the early years, his father tirelessly

sought various trumpet teachers, however Sergei pays tribute to the

technical and musical gifts he has learned from his father, Mikhail

Nakariakov, who has transcribed a large repertoire of classical

concertos for the trumpet - and with whom he studied daily from the very

beginning, and since 1995 exclusively!

From the age of ten Sergei started to perform with orchestras in major

concert halls of the Soviet Union. In 1988, he got a diploma at a brass

competition for adults. It became clear that in order to develop his

carrier and to travel, he had to leave the Soviet Union. His hometown

Nizhni Novgorod was a closed city! His family made the decision to move

to Israel in order to give him the liberty to travel. In 1991 he enjoyed

great success at the Ivo Pogorelich Festival in Bad Wörishofen. In

August of the same year he made his debut together with the Lithuanian

Chamber Orchestra at the Salzburg Festival. One year later 1992 Sergei

was a guest at the “Schleswig - Holstein Musikfestival” where he was

awarded the "Prix Davidoff" . Since then he has appeared in

many of the worlds leading centers of music, including the Hollywood

Bowl in Los Angeles, the Lincoln Center in New York, the Royal Festival

Hall and the Royal Albert Hall in London. He performs in festivals in

most European Countries. He tours for several weeks each year in Japan

and also appears as guest soloist in North America and Canada. He is

collaborating with the world's most feted musicians, orchestras and

conductors, most recently in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs Élysées

with the St.Petersburg Philharmonic and Youri Temirkanov. His

international touring schedule includes performances in the foremost

concert series all over the world, both with orchestra and in recital -

accompanied by his sister pianist Vera Okhotnikova or Belgian pianist

Maria Meerovitch.

On Oct. 13. 2002

Sergei Nakariakov received the ECHO Klassik Award on ZDF as instrumentalist of the year from the German Phono-Academy.

On Jan. 18. 2006

Sergei Nakariakov premiered “ad absurdum” with the Munich Chamber

Orchestra, a concerto specially composed for Sergei Nakariakov by Jörg

Widmann, It features his unusual circular breathing capabilities. On

Oct. 05. 2007 Sergei Nakariakov performed “ad absurdum” with the BBC

Symphony Orchestra and Jiri Belohlavec at the Barbican in London.

On May 20. 2006

Sergei Nakariakov served as a member of the jury at the “BBC Young

Musician of the Year 2006” Competition at Newcastle Gateshead in

England.

Sergei Nakariakov's discography with TELDEC CLASSICS INTERNATIONAL (WARNER) has drawn the most enthusiastic public and critical acclaim; and

incorporates the most famous trumpet concertos as well as two recital

albums of virtuoso music for trumpet by Bizet, Paganini, de Falla,

Gershwin and Rimski-Korsakov with pianist Alexander Markovitch. The

"Élégie" recording, with pianist Vera Nakariakova, includes a selection

of famous romantic works for voice and piano transcribed for trumpet and

piano. "Concertos for Trumpet" features transcriptions for trumpet and

flügelhorn of string concertos by Haydn, Mendelssohn and Hoffmeister.

The French magazine: "Repertoire" gave it the highest classification:

"R10 - Coup de foudre". "NO LIMIT" was awarded the RTL d'Or. "From

Moscow with love" features Russian Concertos. His most recent CD is

“Echoes from the past”, with trumpet concertos originally written for

bassoon and violoncello, written by Hummel, Mozart, Weber and Camille

Saint-Saens. In Japan he appeared in a romantic film production

impersonating a Russian trumpet player: “Taiga-no itteki”. He also

played in the soundtrack of the film.

Highpoint of the season 2009 / 2010 was Sergei Nakariakov's premiere of

the trumpet concerto "PIETA" by Christian Jost dedicated to Chet Baker, with the Philharmonic State Orchestra Hamburg in the Laeiszhalle

November 22nd and 23rd.