Constantine Orbelian

Artistic Director

Born in San Francisco to Russian and Armenian parents, Constantine Orbelian made his debut as a pianist with the San Francisco Symphony at the age of 11. After graduating from Juilliard in New York, he embarked on a career as a piano virtuoso that included appearances with major symphony orchestras throughout the USA, UK, Europe, and Russia. His recording of the Khachaturian piano concerto won “Best Concerto Recording of the Year” award in the United Kingdom. Orbelian is Founder and Music Director of the annual Palaces of St. Petersburg International Music Festival, and of Moscow’s unique concert series “Musical Treasures at the Museums of the Kremlin.” In May 2001 he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, an award given to immigrants or children of immigrants, who have made outstanding contributions to the United States.
Constantine Orbelian is the Music Director of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and as Permanent Guest Conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. He has led his celebrated Moscow Chamber Orchestra into a new era of international prominence, and has become known as a tireless champion of Russian-American cultural exchange and international ambassadorship. In January, 2004 President Putin awarded Orbelian the coveted title “Honored Artist of Russia,” a title never before bestowed on a non-Russian citizen.
Orbelian’s worldwide tours with the MCO in 2005/06 include concerts in New York, Washington, Miami, London, Paris, Munich, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Prague and Istanbul. In September 2004, Orbelian conducted legendary pianist Van Cliburn and the Moscow Philharmonic in a special memorial concert at Moscow’s Great Hall, dedicated to the children of Beslan. Orbelian led New York’s only Khachaturian Centennial Concert in fall 2003, with the Philharmonia of Russia and rising young opera star Marina Domashenko.
His frequent collaborations with Dmitri Hvorostovsky include the spectacular May, 2004 concert in Moscow’s Red Square for a live audience of 10,000, with President Putin in attendance. The program was telecast live throughout Russia and to 37 countries worldwide. Over the last few years the Moscow Chamber Orchestra under Orbelian have recorded over 25 CDs on Delos featuring classical chamber repertoire and music by both Russian and foreign contemporary composers.