Elena Sorokina
Professor Elena Sorokina, Head of the History of Russian music program at the Moscow Conservatory, is a world-renowned pianist and musicologist. As a performer she was the duo partner of her late husband, Alexander Bakhchiev, with whom she performed for over 40 years. The leading Russian piano duo, they toured extensively throughout Russia, Europe, the United States, Canada, Israel, and Japan. Professor Sorokina is the recipient of many distinguished awards, including Japan's Kodama Award for "Revival of the Duo Genre" and, in 2009, "The City of Moscow Prize" for Arts and Literature. The enormous repertoire of E. Sorokina and A. Bakhchiev covered the majority of ensemble works originally written for four hands on one piano, as well as for two pianos. The list of works ranges from the earliest duet pieces to modern compositions dedicated to them by some of Russia's top contemporary composers. Champions of new music, they commissioned many compositions for piano duo. Many of their concerts were based upon themes, among them 'The Music Capitals of the World,' 'The Complete Mozart Piano Duets,' 'The Complete Schubert Piano Duets,' 'The Complete Schumann Piano Duets,' 'J. S. Bach, His Family and Students.' A musician with wide interests, E. Sorokina is the author of an essential book on the history of the piano duet. She and A. Bakhchiev made numerous recordings of the piano duet literature including previously unknown works she had discovered in her extensive research. A legendary teacher at the Moscow Conservatory, she has taught a wide variety of music history courses with a particular focus on late nineteenth to early twentieth century Russian culture. She continues to present papers and lectures throughout Russia, Germany, Austria, Japan, Israel, Canada, and the USA. This year she gave public lectures on Franz Liszt and Russian piano school at Mannes College and on the Russian piano culture of the Silver Age at Yale University. Born in Moscow, Elena Sorokina studied at the Central School of Music where she started teaching upon graduation. She continued her studies at the Moscow Conservatory in musicology and piano. She has taught piano and chamber music at the Moscow Conservatory for more than 50 years, has served as Head of the History of Russian Music Program for nearly two decades, and for a number of years was Vice President for research and performing activities. She resides in Moscow and spends summers with her grandson, daughter, and son-in-law in New York.
