Vladimir Verbitsky was born in Leningrad (St.Petersburg) and graduated from that
city's famous Conservatoire in piano as well as choral, operatic and symphonic
conducting. Following his graduation, he studied with Yevgeny Mravinsky, the
renowned Chief Conductor of the Leningrad Philharmonic, who took the closest
interest in his musical development.
Vladimir Verbitsky made his Moscow debut at the invitation of the legendary
Russian pianist Emil Gilels, and their musical association continued through
numerous concert appearances. In Russia he regularly conducts the major Moscow
and St. Petersburg orchestras. as well as continuing his long association with
the Voronezh Philharmonic, of which he has been Chief Conductor and Music
Director since 1972. Under his baton the Voronezh Philharmonic has improved
enormously and was given a title of Academic Orchestra for truly great music
making. Vladimir Verbitsky received the honorable title of People's Artist of
Russia.
As Guest Conductor on many international tours of Evgeny
Svetlanov's USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Verbitsky conducted
this mighty orchestra in France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Spain,
Canada, USA, South America, Japan and Hong Kong.
He was introduced to Australian and New Zealand audiences in 1986, when he
achieved a remarkable personal success as Guest Conductor on the USSR
State Symphony Orchestra's historic first Australasian tour. At the end of
this tour he was invited to be Music Director of the State Orchestra of
Victoria in Melbourne.
Vladimir Verbitsky has toured Australia each year since 1987 and regularly
conducts all of the major Australian and New Zealand orchestras. This
unique collaboration with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra has
extended through twelve years, from 1987-1991 as a Guest Conductor and
from 1992-1997 as the orchestra's Principal Guest Conductor. He was
appointed in 1997 Conductor Laureate. This important honor has been given
for life in recognition of his depth of knowledge, artistic vision and
wonderful rapport with the orchestra.
Vladimir Verbitsky's recent engagements have included
concerts with St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Great Radio and Television
Orchestra of Moscow and Svetlanov's Orchestra; concerts with the Lucerne
Symphony in Switzerland; recordings in Germany with the Baden-Baden
Philharmonic, a six-concert Russian Music Festival with the Auckland
Philharmonia in New Zealand; frequent concerts with the Florida Orchestra
and the Tucson Symphony.
Among soloists he has performed with are Emil Gilels, Vladimir Spivakov,
Gidon Kremer, Evelyn Glennie, Oleg Kagan, Natalia Gutman, Viktor Tretyakov,
lgor Oistrakh, Evgeny Svetlanov, Paul Badura-Skoda, Frank Peter
Zimmermann.
Vladimir Verbitsky's repertoire includes more than two thousand works of
world classical music as well as contemporary music. He made recordings
with many orchestras: with USSR State Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg
Symphony Orchestra, Voronezh Philharmonic, Slovak Philharmonic,
Saarbrücken Radio Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony
Orchestra, State Orchestra of Victoria, Queensland Symphony Orchestra,
West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and
others.
