ARTYOM DERVOED
CLASSICAL GUITAR
"One of the most outstanding classical guitarists I’ve heard so far...[who] is taking the classical guitar to a new level. To watch Mr. Dervoed’s stunning virtuosity combined with his deep musical insight...is more than fascinating.” Prof. Augustin Wiedemann, classical guitarist, presenter (Germany)
"An outstanding figure." La Provence — Dimanche (France)
“Paganini of the guitar.“ Plattlinger Anzeiger (Germany)
Universe Guitare (France) has famously dubbed Artyom Dervoed the “Tsar of the guitar”. This bold claim is backed by the growing international demand, an active recording career, and no less than 16 first place awards in various international competitions. A regular guest on the world’s most prestigious stages, including the Berliner Philharmonie, Kölner Philharmonie, Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall, Bunka Kaikan, Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and Tchaikovsky Hall, Mr. Dervoed is among the most eminent champions of the classical guitar. Having mastered the entire standard orchestral, chamber and solo guitar literature, he is significantly expanding the existing repertoire through collaborations with leading composers, whose works he inspires, commissions and performs.
In July 2019, Artyom Dervoed unveiled his own guitar transcription of Tan Dun’s epic multimedia work Nu Shu: The Secret Songs of Women with Qingdao Symphony Orchestra under the baton of the composer himself. Originally written for harp, 13 microfilms and orchestra, Nu Shu was commissioned by NHK and the Philadelphia orchestras in 2013. Five years later, Maestro Tan Dun invited Artyom Dervoed to transcribe the work for classical guitar.
Mr. Dervoed fell in love with the guitar as a child and became the first Russian to win two of the most prestigious contests, Michele Pittaluga Guitar Competition in Italy and Her Royal Highness Princess Cristina Competition in Spain. The international attention allowed him to focus on recording projects, including the album of works by Russian composers, which was released worldwide on Naxos in 2008 and became one of the top ten bestselling chamber music records that year. “If your current budget runs to just a single item, make this the one” advised the UK Classical Guitar Magazine. The following year, Mr. Dervoed recorded the music of the Cuban classical guitar legend Leo Brouwer. The album titled Canticum was exclusively released in 2019 on classical music streaming platform IDAGIO. His third album Ghosts & Shadows: Music of Spain (Melodia Records, 2015) representing a survey of the 500 years of Spanish music, was nominated for the ICMA Best Solo Performance Award in the “Solo Instruments” category. Just before the pandemic crisis Artyom Dervoed released his fourth album Paganini & Koshkin (Melodia, 2020). The album features Nikita Koshkin’s Megaron concerto, and the first-ever recording of Grand Quartetto – Niccolò Paganini's Grand Sonata transcribed by Koshkin for guitar and string trio. The album brought the artist the second ICMA nomination and was acknowledged as “one of best recordings of the decade” by leading Canadian classical guitar source This is Classical Guitar.
A magnetic personality and a bona fide virtuoso, Mr. Dervoed has an active media profile in Russia. He is frequently invited to speak on TV and radio about the classical guitar, its historic significance, musical versatility and exciting future. The world premiere of Niccolò Paganini/Stephen Goss’ Guitar Concerto based on Paganini’s Grand Sonata for guitar and violin, with Mikhail Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra, was nationally televised, reaching hundreds of thousands of viewers. Among his recent world premieres — the Concerto for guitar and orchestra by living Russian composer Alexander Tchaikovsky (2018). Currently his orchestral repertoire consists of no less than 33 concerti.
Mr. Dervoed teaches at the prestigious Gnesin Academy. Twelve highly anticipated lessons of Artyom Dervoed’s series of educational videos was released in 2017 — 2020, four more will be slated for release this year.
Artyom Dervoed is a founder of Moscow Guitar Chamber Music Festival “Golden Fingerboards” and the co-founder and Artistic Director of the annual Guitar Virtuosi Moscow International Festival, presented by the Moscow Philharmonic at the Tchaikovsky Hall. Its solo, chamber and orchestral performances are streamed online and have featured major international stars including Pepe Romero, Sergio and Odair Assad, violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky and pianist Boris Berezovsky. The latter has recently collaborated with Mr. Dervoed on a program of classical and contemporary repertoire. In 2015 the festival opened with Mr. Dervoed’s performance of his own transcription of Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Svetlanov State Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Fabio Mastrangelo.
Born in Southern Russia, Mr. Dervoed began his guitar studies with Sergey Annikov, Elena Svetozarova and Leonid Reznik. He later trained with Prof. Nikolay Komolyatov at the Schnittke Music College and Gnesin Academy in Moscow, Oscar Ghiglia at Accademia Chigiana in Italy, and Aniello Desiderio at Koblenz Guitar Academy in Germany. Recognized as “a musician with a wide dynamic range, an intelligent and expressive phrasing, and a technical facility with no discernible limitations" (Editions Orphee, USA), he has received honorary scholarships from the City of Moscow, Vladimir Spivakov International Foundation, and the Russian Foundation for the Performing Arts.
Artyom Dervoed uses D’Addario strings and is the first Russian classical guitarist endorsed by Yamaha.
Awards:
1995, Moscow (Russia), «Young Musicians» International competition — 1st prize;
1996, Belgorod (Russia), All-Russian competition — 1st prize;
1999, Carpentras (France), International competition dedicated to Leo Brouwer — 1st prize;
2004, Cherepovets (Russia), «Cup of North» International competition — 1st prize;
2004, Ile de Re (France), International competition — 1st prize;
2006, Alessandria (Italy), «Michele Pittaluga» 39th International competition — 1st prize;
2006, Singapore, International competition — 1st prize;
2007 “Golden Guitar” prize of the International Guitar Convention in Alessandria (Italy) in the Best Up-and-Coming Guitarist category;
2009, Toledo (Spain), «H.R.H. Princess Cristina» 18th International competition — 1st prize.
2010, Buffalo (NY, USA), JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition — 1st prize.
2010, Boston (MA, USA), Boston GuitarFest International competition — 1st prize.
2010, Iserlohn (Germany), International competition — 1st prize.
2011, Netanya (Israel), International competition — 1st prize.
2012, Columbia (SC, USA), Southern Guitar Festival & Competition — 1st prize.
2012, Taipei (Taiwan), Taiwan International guitar competition — 1st prize.
2012, Pisa (Italy), «Stefano Strata — Città di Pisa» International competition — 1st prize.
2013, Moscow (Russia), Alexander Frauchi International competition — 1st prize.
2016, ICMA Best Solo Performance Award nomination in the “Solo Instruments” category.
2021, ICMA Best Album in Assorted Programs nomination.
Select orchestral collaborations:
Russian National Orchestra & Mikhail Pletnev, Svetlanov State Symphony Orchestra & Vladimir Jurowski, Qingdao Symphony Orchestra & Tan Dun, National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia & Vladimir Spivakov, Yuri Bashmet's State Symphony Orchestra "Novaya Rossiya", Ural Philharmonic Orchestra, Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra & Alexander Sladkovsky; Staatskapelle Berlin Orchestra, Rhine Philharmonic State Orchestra, Cologne New Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonietta Köln, Amadeus Kammerorchester Dortmund, Ensemble del Arte (Germany); Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (USA); Roma Philharmonic Orchestra, Vivaldi Philharmonic Orchestra (Italy); Beer-Sheva Sinfonietta Orchestra (Israel).
Select press quotes:
“Dervoed goes from lush arpeggiated sections, sweet melodic playing, percussive rhythmic accompaniment, and incisive articulations… [Megaron Concerto] is a must-listen recording. […] The concerto explores every corner of virtuosic guitar performance along with engaging orchestration and memorable melodies and textures.” This is classical guitar (Canada)
“Soft touch and virtuosic creative energy.” Neuburger Rundschau (Germany)
“First-class performance to be recommended to any chamber music lover.” Donau Kurier (Germany)
“He has real musicianship and real presence. He has a wonderful look, with an intense demeanor […] Dervoed's tone was dashing and authoritative […] Every note he played was distinct and intended, but at the same time his playing sounded spontaneous. Dervoed's final notes, plucked out against a shimmer of strings, were magical.” New Classical Music Critic (USA)
“He captured the aromas and flavors of the compositions and seemed also to have done some digging into their emotional substance […] Rodrigo’s Three Spanish Pieces gave the visitor a sweeping range of technical issues to solve. Not only did Dervoed solve them, but he infused this arresting and intuitive music with generous personal spirit […] The recital ended with an exacting and expressively detailed Sonata for Guitar by Turina, which allowed Dervoed to re-reveal his prodigious finger dexterity and elevated musical sensitivity.” Herald Times Online (USA)
“The Verri Hall audience was literally stunned by the highest level of Mr. Dervoed’s musicianship […]. The amazing accuracy of his performance was evident in every work performed by Artyom Dervoed as a testament to his exceptional technique and originality of the interpretation.” Il Cittadino di Lodi(Italy)