Nikolai Sachenko
Russian violinist (born 1977)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nikolai Sachenko (Russian: Николай Саченко; born 1977) is a Russian violinist. He was awarded the top prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998. Since 2008 he has been a member of the Brahms Trio, with pianist Natalia Rubinstein and cellist Kirill Rodin. In 2022 he joined the Borodin Quartet as first violinist.
Nikolai Sachenko | |
|---|---|
Николай Саченко | |
The Brahms Trio, from left to right: Kirill Rodin, Natalia Rubinstein, and Nikolai Sachenko | |
| Born | 1977 (age 48–49) |
| Education | Moscow Conservatory |
| Occupation | Violinist |
Biography
Sachenko was born in 1977 in Alma Ata, the capital of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (now Kazakhstan). When he was six years old, he began studying violin at a music school in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.[1] He moved to Moscow in 1987 to study at the Moscow Conservatory, where he was sponsored by the New Names Foundation and trained with professors such as Igor Bezrodny.[2] In 1995, Sachenko participated in the 3rd International Violin Competition Leopold Mozart, where he finished in 4th place and won the Audience Prize.[3] At the age of 21, he was named the top violinist at the 11th International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998, playing a violin made by the 18th-century French luthier Jean-Baptiste Salomon.[1][2] Russia dominated the competition that year: in addition to Sachenko, the pianist Denis Matsuev and the cellist Denis Shapovalov were awarded the top prizes in their respective categories.[4] Sachenko embarked on an international concert tour after winning the competition.[2]
In 2005 he became the concertmaster of the Novaya Rossiya State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Yuri Bashmet.[1] The following year, he became a soloist with the Moscow State Philharmonic Society.[2][5] Sachenko has been a member of the Brahms Trio since 2008, performing with the pianist Natalia Rubinstein and the cellist Kirill Rodin.[6][7] The trio's focus is on infrequently-performed piano trios by Russian composers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[8][9] His performances as part of the Brahms Trio have received critical praise. Tully Potter, writing for Musical Opinion, commented that Sachenko's "focused playing is an unfailing pleasure",[6] and David Morrison of Fanfare described his playing as "eloquently expressive and impassioned".[9] In 2017 he was named a Merited Artist of the Russian Federation.[10] In September 2022 he joined the Borodin Quartet as new first violinist following the retirement of Ruben Aharonian.
As of 2021, Sachenko plays a violin made by the Italian luthier Francesco Rugeri in 1697 that belongs to Russia's State Collection of Unique Musical Instruments.[1] He has cited the violinists Yehudi Menuhin and Isaac Stern and the cellist Mstislav Rostropovich among his influences.[1]