Pletnev, Mikhail (1957– )

Russian pianist and conductor. He studied in Moscow and had an international career as a concert pianist and recitalist. He founded the Russian National Orchestra in 1990, and toured with it as conductor to Japan, the Americas, and Europe. He was guest conductor with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie. His recordings include music by Haydn, Rakhmaninov, and Beethoven as a pianist, and Tchaikovsky's sixth symphony as a conductor.