Grammy nominated Ukrainian-British violist and conductor Maxim Rysanov has established himself as internationally sought after vibrant and charismatic musician. He is principally known as viola player performing with world class orchestra’s and chamber music ensembles. But Maxim also enjoys a thriving career as a conductor, often combining conducting and directing as a soloist within one concert.
He was soloist with, amongst others BBC Symphony Orchestra, Residentie Orkest the Hague, Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, NDR Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Beethoven Orchester Bonn and Brno Philharmonic.
Conducting highlights will be his returns to La Verdi Milan, I Musici de Montreal, Philharmonie Oost Nederland and Croatian Radio Symphony Orchestra. The past season saw the world premiere of a new viola concerto by Gabriel Prokofiev. The first performances also marked his debut as a conductor with the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn and with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, both of which have co-commissioned the new work together with La Verdi Orchestra Milan and the Oregon Music Festival. Further conducting highlights were his debuts with Ulster Orchestra, Orchestra of East Netherlands and Croatian Radio Symphony Orchestra, as well as return visits to BBC NOW, Detmold Chamber Orchestra, Kiev Soloists and Danubia Orchestra. Performing debuts with St Gallen Symphony Orchestra, Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, and Pannon Philharmonic rounded off the season.
Maxim is a keen chamber musician. His chamber partners include Maxim Vengerov, Janine Jansen, Mischa Maisky, Gidon Kremer, Nicola Benedetti, Vadim Repin, Augustin Dumay, Viktoria Mullova, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Sol Gabetta, Leif Ove Andsnes, Denis Matsuev, Alessio Bax, Michael Collins, Martin Frost, Alice Coote, Freddy Kempf, Yeoelom Son among others.
His enthusiasm for new music generates many exciting collaborations which extend the viola repertoire. This includes world premieres by Dobrinka Tabakova, Pēteris Vasks, Richard Dubugnon and Valentin Bibik. Other composers with whom Maxim has developed a close working relationship include Benjamin Yusupov, Leonid Desyatnikov, Giya Kancheli, Artem Vassiliev and Elena Langer and most recently Gabriel Prokofiev.
Maxim’s recordings have gained numerous award nominations including Gramophone Editor’s Choice,
ECHO and ICMA. Maxim featured as both soloist and conductor on the debut disc of composer Dobrinka Tabakova (ECM) in 2013 – a disc that reached number 2 in the UK classical charts and was shortlisted for a Grammy Award. The latest disc “Voices” on the BIS label with Riga Sinfonietta features music of Pēteris Vasks, including the viola concerto which was written for and dedicated to Maxim, This was released in spring 2020 to great critical acclaim.
Maxim is delighted to play a 1780 Giuseppe Guadagnini viola known as ‘Il Soldato’ on private loan that
was kindly arranged by Premiere Performances Hong Kong.
