Leonid Gorokhov
Leonid Gorokhov studied cello at the St. Petersburg Conservatory under Anatoli Nikitin and participated in master classes with Daniil Shafran. He is the only Russian cellist to have won both the Grand Prix and the First Prize at the Geneva Competition (1986). In 1995, the European Association for Encouragement of the Arts awarded him the Cultural Achievement Prize for “extraordinary talent and outstanding artistic skills.”
In 1991, Leonid Gorokhov made his debut as a soloist with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Lord Menuhin. This was followed by performances with orchestras in Bergen, Berlin, the Royal Philharmonic English Symphony Orchestra, the Sinfonia Varsovia, and at the Tonhalle in Zurich. Four years later, he undertook a major concert tour across Russia with Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto, accompanied by the Hungarian Philharmonic and again conducted by Lord Menuhin.
Gorokhov performs both as a soloist and with his Hermitage String Trio, as well as in duets with pianists Nikolai Demidenko, Niklas Sivelov, and Kathryn Stott. He has given concerts worldwide with numerous renowned orchestras and at many festivals. Recent engagements included further performances of Elgar’s works with the Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra in Bucharest and Walton’s works with the Philharmonic Orchestra in the United Kingdom.
Gorokhov’s discography includes recordings of works by Boccherini, Debussy, Haydn, Kodaly, Martinu, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Martinu, Saint-Saëns, Prokofiev, and Stravinsky. These CDs have been released by labels such as Supraphon, Olympia Label, Cello Classics, AGPL, and ASV Gold.
Gorokhov is a British citizen. He was a professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. In the winter semester of 2008/2009, he accepted a professorship in cello at the Hanover University of Music, Drama, and Media.
