Petr Limonov

“Highest intelligence, extraordinary intensity, subtlety, sophistication and a razor-sharp sense of time.” - Nottingham Post

”An extremely multi-faceted, phenomenal musician, who has an endless array of abilities.” - Classical Music Magazine

Winner of Nikolai Rubinstein Piano Competition, pupil of Maria João Pires and Dmitri Alexeev, award-winning British pianist Petr Limonov is increasingly sought-after both as a soloist and a chamber musician worldwide. His notable appearances include La Roque d’Antheron festival (broadcast by radio France Musique), Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, Lerici Music Festival, Cadogan Hall, Kings Place, the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, a solo recital in The Duke’s Hall for His Majesty King Charles III, iTunes Festival, TV appearances for BBC Proms Extra, Podium Witteman and broadcasts for BBC Radio 3. His arrangement of the Auld Lang Syne (from Nicola Benedetti’s “Homecoming” album, Decca) was performed in the Albert Hall at the BBC Proms. On the 6th of March 2022, Petr conducted an open-air orchestral concert in Trafalgar Square, London, in protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Petr has recorded albums for Decca, Onyx Classics, Chandos and Champs Hill labels; the “1948” album, recorded with Laura van der Heijden, received the “Edison Klassiek” and the BBC “Newcomer of the Year” awards. Over the years, his chamber music partners included, among others, Maria João Pires, Nicola Benedetti, Gabriel Feltz, Adrian Brendel, Laura van der Heijden, Jennifer Pike, Mathilde Milwidsky and Leonard Elschenbroich.

"...Petr Limonov, avec un détachement apparent, a joué les morceaux les plus ardus avec une aisance incroyable, une simplicité et une sincérité parfaite." - La Nouvelle République

“Petr Limonov is one of the finest pianists and musicians I have had the honour of playing with and hearing. His profound sensitivity is extremely rare, his musical intelligence is of the highest degree and his pianistic power is formidable. Petr is one of the most enlightened musical souls I have come across.” - Nicola Benedetti

"His mastery is mesmerising.” - Rubric News

Born in Moscow, Petr started playing the piano at the age of 5. A year later he entered the prestigious Moscow Central Music School, where he studied under the guidance of Siavush Gadjiev, Valery Piasetsky and, later, Andrei Pisarev. After winning First Prize at the Nikolai Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Paris he started giving concerts throughout Europe and Russia, supported by the Vladimir Spivakov International Foundation. He went on to study with Hamish Milne and Alexander Satz at the Royal Academy of Music (London) on a full scholarship, followed by a year spent at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot, where his teachers were Ramzi Yassa and Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy. In 2010 Petr returned to London to commence his postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music with Dmitri Alexeev on a full scholarship, obtaining his Masters degree in 2012. During his studies Petr took part in masterclasses given by Ferenc Rados, Alfred Brendel, Stephen Hough, Vitaly Margulis and Stephen Kovacevich; whilst in RCM he also studied conducting under Peter Stark. In November 2013 Petr made his conducting début at Cadogan Hall with London International Chamber Orchestra, directing works by Glazunov and Rachmaninov.

Photography by Chris Gloag,

www.chrisgloag.com