Alexander Doronin: A Masterful Pianist
His preference is for a "bright, singing treble" and a "growling, dark bass." He avoids the overly bright Yamaha sound, which he describes as "too immediate," preferring the complex harmonics of a well-aged Hamburg Steinway. In his home studio, he practices primarily on a vintage Bechstein from 1921, which he claims has a "slower repetition speed that forces me to be honest about my phrasing."
Critics frequently praise Doronin for balancing poetic sensitivity with athletic virtuosity. alexander doronin piano
International Piano Magazine wrote: “Doronin does not play to the gallery. His is an inward, searching artistry that rewards repeated listening. In an age of pyrotechnic showpieces, he reminds us why the piano can still sing.”
Since 2015, Doronin has served on faculty at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin and as guest professor at the Moscow Conservatory. His masterclasses—known for their intensity and poetic imagery—reject mechanical drilling. Instead, he teaches: Alexander Doronin: A Masterful Pianist His preference is
Watch a full recital by Alexander Doronin featuring works by Schumann and Elena Firsova: Sunday 2 June 4pm: Recital: Alexander Doronin, piano St Margaret's Putney YouTube• 3 Jun 2024 Sunday 2 June 4pm: Recital: Alexander Doronin, piano
Doronin refuses to be pigeonholed as solely a Romantic or a Contemporary specialist. His concert programs are architectural marvels, often pairing unlikely bedfellows to create a new context. His is an inward, searching artistry that rewards
| Album Title | Year | Label | Key Works | |-------------|------|-------|------------| | Scriabin: Late Works | 2014 | Melodiya | Sonatas Nos. 6–10, Vers la flamme | | Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues | 2018 | Alpha Classics | Op. 87 complete | | Schubert: Last Sonatas | 2021 | Harmonia Mundi | D. 958, 959, 960 | | Beethoven Violin Sonatas (with H. Hahn) | 2020 | DG | Nos. 5 “Spring,” 7, 9 “Kreutzer” | | Live at Wigmore Hall | 2023 | Wigmore Live (digital) | Scriabin, Schubert, Rachmaninoff arr. Doronin |
In the digital age, how a musician looks is almost as important as how they sound. Doronin is acutely aware of this. His stage presence is magnetic but modest. There are no ostentatious grimaces or theatrical swoons. Instead, Doronin sits quietly, often closing his eyes before the first note to establish a silent contract with the audience.