Arsentiy Kharitonov
“The Russian pianist and composer, Arsentiy Kharitonov, proved to be the newest addition to the top ranks of this season’s artists,” said The New York Observer, citing his Carnegie Hall debut as one of the top six concerts of the season. Fanfare Magazine writes, “Arsentiy Kharitonov’s sumptuous tone, technical mastery, broad dramatic range, and elegant phrasing place him in the top ranks of keyboard players today. Above this and trumping most of the musical gymnasts of the day, there is genuine poetry here, the ring of truth, and, it seems to me, a rare sincerity issuing from a deep place in the pianist’s heart.”
Hailing from St. Petersburg, Arsentiy Kharitonov is the first-prize winner of the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition (US). After also winning the Rachmaninov Competition (Russia), he began his concert career with engagements throughout Europe including appearances at the Philharmonic Hall, and the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, at the Royal Conservatory, Stockholm, and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, followed by Asian tours with performances in the major halls of, among others, Shanghai, Beijing, and Seoul.
In the Americas, he has appeared—among others—at the Music and Beyond Festival in Ottawa, at the National Gallery of Art and Catholic University of Washington, DC, in Dallas, Los Angeles, with orchestra at the Tabernacle at Temple in the Square, Salt Lake City, at St. John’s Cathedral, Steinway Hall, the Frick Collection, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in NYC.
The Observer wrote of the latter concert, “…his style is unlike any of his contemporaries and harkens back to earlier times. The dynamic range had an astonishing breadth, and the lyric passages were especially captivating.”
The artist’s recordings for Toccata Classics include the complete piano works of Leo Ornstein and the chamber works of Robert Kahn. Masterpieces by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, and Scriabin can be heard on the Hartshorn Classical label. Kharitonov’s recordings for Sound Atlas include piano works by Bach, Schubert, Mussorgsky, and Kharitonov’s own set of Concert Études.
As a composer, Kharitonov has been equally well-received winning the First Prize at the All-National Composer’s Competition in Russia in 2020. In a review by the Epoch Times, he was praised for his “harmonic chops, which are rare these days among composers. You can hear the sparkle and edge of Shostakovich and Prokofiev, but its heart seems to be in the lyricism of Rachmaninoff. It was a real pleasure to hear these dynamic works.” Composer Samuel Adler wrote, “In the past few weeks I have become acquainted with the music of Arsentiy Kharitonov and find it very strong, vital, and extremely exciting. Here is a composer and a fabulous pianist, who should be much better known for the music that he composes, since it is so very well constructive and immediately effective. His piano music as well as his chamber and orchestra works should become favorites with anyone fortunate enough to get to know them.”
Kharitonov’s music was performed by the Violin Quartet of the State Symphony Orchestra "New Russia", Kandinsky Orchestra, Sonorus Orchestra ensemble, violin ensemble ViolUNTi, violinist Julia Bushkova, recorder player Paul Leenhouts, cellist Cicely Parnas, among others.
Kharitonov’s principal teachers included Galina Osipova, Nikita Fitenko, and Joseph Banowetz.