Mikhail Zemtsov

“…Sensation!…This colourful sound, sure virtuosity and utterly accomplished handling of the viola in its hardest regions actually urges one to use the term “Devil-violist!” – Lubeckische Blaetter, 11-2001

Mikhail Zemtsov first took violin lessons from his mother Ludmila Levinson at the age of 5, later studying at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory (Prof. G. Odinetz). He gained Soloist Diplomas with Distinction from ABRSM (GB, B. Dinerstein), Hochschuele fuer Musik in Hamburg (Germany,M. Nichetianu) and Maastricht Conservatory (Netherlands, M. Kugel). He is a prizewinner of the First International Viola Competion (Vienna) and of th Elisa Meyer String Competion (Hamburg).

Mikhail Zemtsov has participated in numerous International Festivals: Cervantino, Camarissima (Mexico) Bach (Peru), Rosendal, Egersund (Norway) Baastad (Sweden) Luebecker Kammermusikfest, Oldenburger Promenade, Amadeus Aachen (Germany), Cividale del Friuli, Tuscan Sun Cortona, Settimane Musicale di Stresa (Italy) Ost-West Musikfest (Austria), Gaia (Zwitserland), Cambrai (France), N.Jarvi Summer Academy (Estonia), Grachtenfestival, Schostakovitchfestival Amsterdam, Delft, Middelburg, Peter de Grote Groningen, Storioni Eindhoven (Holland). He has been a chamber music partner to Bella Davidovitch, Boris Berezovsky, Eliane Rodrigues, Haakon Austboe, Plamena Mangova, Alexander Markovitch, Enrico Pace, Jean-Claude van den Eynden; Dmitri Sitkovetski, Dora Schwarzberg, Sarah Chang, Janine Jansen, Julian Rachlin, David Grimal, Liza Ferschtman, Natalia Prishepenko, Mihaela Martin, Sergei Stadler, Benjamin Schmidt; Nobuko Imai, Lars-Anders Tomter; Sebastian Klinger, Frans Helmerson, Quirine Viersen, Gaviel Lipkind, Torleif Thedeen; Niek de Groot, Alexei Ogrinchouck, Michel Lethiec; Leipziger, Daniel, Mondriaan and Aviv Quartets, Storioni Trio.

He has recorded 6 chamber music CDs for Sony Masterworks, Tower Records, Deutsche Welle. His Solo CD “The Last Rose of Summer” (including world premier recording on viola of “The Last Rose of Summer” by W. Ernst) has been placed as number 2 among Top 50 on the TROS – Dutch Brodcast/TV Channel and it got 9 points (exellent) in the main dutch recording magazin “LUISTER”. Mikhail plays with the guitarist Enno Voorhorst (Duo Macondo). He is also a member of a trio with Emily Beynon (soloflutist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra ) and the harpist Godelieve Schrama. Zemtsov’s solo appearances include performances with the Moscow Conservatory Chamber Orchestra, Lima Philharmonic, New World Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony of Mexico, Luxembourg Philharmonic (R.Strauss “Don Quixote” with Misha Maisky as cello soloist), Wiener Volksoper (Austria), Hamburger Symphoniker (Germany), Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (Norway) ODSO (Canada), Residentie Orkest (Netherlands), Brussels Chamber Orchetra (Belgium) under Jaap van Zweden, Neeme Jarvi, Dmitri Kitajenko, Ilan Volkov, David Shallon.

At the moment Mikhail plays about 60 solo and chamber music concerts a year and he is viola teacher at The Utrecht Conservatory, Netherlands. Mikhail as also Principal Violist at The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra (chef cond. Neeme Jarvi) and he is a member of the Artistic Comitee of the orchestra.