Mikhail Shekhtman

Mikhail Yurievich Shekhtman (מיכאיל שכטמן; born 25 February 1989) is an Israeli-Russian conductor and pianist.

Early life and education
Mikhail was born in Moscow in 1989 to a Russian father and Jewish mother, both being biochemists working at the Moscow State University.

It was Avram Shechtman, Mikhail's grandfather who deeply loved classical music and, possessing a tenor voice and often singing to young Misha at home as well as playing LP recordings, inspired him to study music.

Mikhail has a sister Ekaterina, who is choir conductor and artistic director of the Intrada ensemble.

Mikhail's great-grandmother's sister was Emma Shadkhan (Emma S. Woytinski), wife of Wladimir S. Woytinsky, advisor to president Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Shekhtman started to play the piano at the age of six and performed her first solo concert at the age of seven. Since early childhood, Mikhail has been studying piano with Elena Aleksandrova.

Throughout 2004—2008 Shekhtman studied at the Moscow State Conservatory Academic Music College with Professor Vera Khoroshina, friend of Emil Gilels and one of the favourite female students of professor Heinrich Neuhaus (teacher of S. Richter and E. Gilels). He also studied organ with Professor Natalia Gureeva. Subsequently, he continued studies at the State Tchaikovsky Conservatory with Professor Pavel Nersessian, graduating in 2013. Mikhail attended masterclasses by Dmitri Bashkirov, Teodor Currentzis & Michail Jurowski.

In April 2019, Mikhail adopted the family name of his grandfather — Shekhtman.

Performances and collaborations


Shekhtman is the recipient of the German OPUS-Klassik award, the Bavarian Radio Prize and has performed in some of the world’s leading concert venues - Leipzig Gewandhaus, Berlin Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerthaus, Zurich Tonhalle, Paris Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Hamburg Laeiszhalle, Melbourne Recital Centre, Seattle Benaroya Hall, Seoul Lotte Concert Hall. He is a regular guest at the major music festivals including Lucerne Easter Festival, Gstaad Menuhin Festival, Verbier Festival, Bad Kissingen Festival.

Shekhtman performs with prominent soloists - Anna Netrebko, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Ilya Gringolts, Olga Peretyatko, Aida Garifullina, Yusif Eyvazov, Luka Hauser, Maria Guleghina, Maxim Vengerov, Behzod Abduraimov, Julia Lezhneva, Jonathan Tetelman, Valentine Michaud. He assisted Daniel Harding, Sir Antonio Pappano, Klaus Mäkelä and Danielle Gatti.

He collaborates with orchestras, including Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, Seoul Philharmonic, National Orchestra of Spain, Bamberger Symphoniker, Lucern Symphony Orchestra, Concerto Köln, Oviedo Philharmonic, Il Giardino Armonico, St-Petersburg Philharmonic. In 2021 Shekhtman founded international festivalorchestra. As pianist he performed under Herbert Blomstedt, Santtu-Mathias Rouvali and James Gaffigan. His concerts and recordings have been broadcast via national television and worldwide through Medici.tv, BBC Radio 3, France Musique & Bavarian Radio.

Press


“It was worth the entire concert just to hear her sing that one song in perfect unison with the talented pianist, Mikhail Shekhtman. The beauty of his playing, his majesty, gives chills to us all. They feed off each other beautifully and the dynamics showcase the incredible musicianship of the performers” — Victoria Kennedy.

“Wonderfully delicate Mozart touch” – Herbert Blomstedt (Adventliche Concert at the Leipzig Gewandhaus)

"Extraordinary sound" - Pizzicato Luxembourg (Remy Franck)

"Astonishing conductor & pianist" - RG.ru (Maria Babalova)

"The real star of the evening was the conductor - brilliant and charismatic Mikhail Shekhtman, who brought the house down leading the Symphony Orchestra of India" – Khushroo N Suntook (chairman and founder, NCPA) 21/11/2019 - SOI, Mumbai - Opening of the Festival 50 Years National Centre for Performing Arts)

Recordings


Shekhtman made his first professional recording released on Decca conducted Concerto Köln for Julia Lezhneva's new world premiere recording of Graun Opera Arias on Decca (2017)

The CD was featured as 'Disc of the Month' of the Bavarian Radio.

Shekhtman's concert pianist repertoire ranges from Scarlatti and Couperin to Prokofiev and Shostakovich with a focus towards works by J.S. Bach, W. A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven and Schubert.