Hailed early in his career by International Piano magazine as âOne to watchâ, Alexander Karpeyev has since firmly established himself as a pianist of profound insight and refined virtuosity. Now based in France, he built his formidable reputation through extensive appearances across the United Kingdom, having performed as a soloist and chamber musician at all the major British venues.
Karpeyev studied at the Moscow Conservatory with pianists Vera Gornostayeva and Alexander Mndoyants and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama under Joan Havill. He is the winner of the Dudley International Piano Competition as well as the Norah Sande Award and the holder of a Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians. In 2014 he completed a performance practice doctoral degree at the City University, based on the Edna Iles Medtner Collection at the British Library. Today, Karpeyev is often asked to give masterclasses and lectures on Russian performing practice.
âSashaâ is passionate about communicating his ideas on Romantic 19th and early 20th-century repertoire and, in particular, in exploring the works of virtuoso pianist-composers. He became deeply immersed in Medtnerâs music and approach to music-making while researching his doctoral degree, and his assimilation of Medtner’s unique performing practice evidence informs his own playing.
A dedicated champion of Russian musical heritage, he served as the Music Curator at Pushkin House in London, between 2016 and 2022. During his tenure, he was instrumental in devising highly original programming, bridging historical contexts and bringing both celebrated masterpieces and rarely heard works to a wider public.
As well as performing and speaking about music, Karpeyev is actively engaged in recording projects. The first, entitled âRussian ĂmigrĂ© Composersâ(Claudio Records, 2018), commemorates the centenary of the Russian Revolution and, in particular, highlights some of the achievements of the pianists-composers who emigrated to Europe and the USA at that time. The second, âComposers at the Savile Clubâ (SOMM Recordings, 2019) celebrates the 150th anniversary of the founding of the London club. Elgar, Parry, Stanford, Howells and Walton number among the members featured. This critically-acclaimed recording was at the top of Spotify, Apple Music and Primephonic releases, as well as the Album of the Week at KUSC and KDFC radio stations in the USA. Third is a CD of Medtner Songs, Opp. 36-7, 45-6, recorded with the Russian soprano Sofia Fomina, offering the first complete version of Opp. 36 and 46, with Russian texts by Pushkin, Tyutchev and Fet, and German texts by Goethe, Eichendorff and Chamisso; it was released by Chandos Records in 2021 to critical acclaim. Karpeyevâs latest project is a CD of Medtnerâs music with award-winning violinist Natalia Lomeiko and baritone Theodore Platt (SOMM Recordings, 2022).
A deeply committed educator, Karpeyev currently serves as a professor of piano at the Conservatoire Pablo Casals in Montgeron and the Conservatoire Rachmaninoff in Paris. Drawing upon his extensive stage experience and rigorous historical research, he is devoted to nurturing the next generation of pianists.
Karpeyev remains deeply grateful for the generous support he has received from the Stiftung Lyra (ZĂŒrich), Guildhall School Trust, Martin Musical Scholarship Fund, Hattori Foundation, Leverhulme Trust, Craxton Memorial Trust, English Speaking Union, Fidelio Charitable Trust, Solti Foundation, Nicholas Boas Charitable Trust, Jaques Samuel Pianos, Coach House Pianos, his family, friends and numerous anonymous donors.