Maxim Rubtsov
Flute
Principal
Internationally acclaimed flutist Maxim Rubtsov has been called “miraculous,” “superb,” “absolutely impeccable” and “one of the best flutists of the Modern Age.” Flute Talk magazine wrote that he is “an amazing performer who commands the audience’s attention from the moment he walks on stage.” He is also one of Russia’s best musical ambassadors.
Appointed Principal Flute of the Russian National Orchestra in 2003, Rubtsov was given unprecedented solo opportunities with the RNO by its founding conductor Mikhail Pletnev. These opportunities have included the Russian premiere of John Corigliano's Pied Piper Fantasy in 2004 under the baton of Alexander Vedernikov. Of the performance the composer said, "Maxim Rubtsov is the perfect Pied Piper. He has both the charm and excitement that a great performer must have. With his movie star looks and charisma, and his magnificent playing and acting of the part, the legendary piper becomes alive for all to see." In 2014 Rubtsov re-staged Pied Piper Fantasy with the Omsk Symphony Orchestra, putting 40 children on stage and earning critical acclaim as soloist and production designer. Omsk TV called the new production “intriguing, unusually exciting, real magic.”
December 2007 marked Rubtsov’s U. S. recital debut with pianist Valentina Lisitsa, presented by Friends of Chamber Music of Miami. The Miami Herald called his playing “virtually faultless” and stated “he possesses a stellar technique.” Excerpts of Rubtsov’s 2009 recital of Russian music with pianist Pamela Penick presented by the University of Alabama Celebrity Series were re-broadcast on 245 public radio stations across the United States.
With Vladimir Jurowski and the RNO in 2007 Rubtsov performed Mozart's Flute Concerto in G Major, after which Maestro Jurowski wrote, “Mr. Rubtsov is the sort of person who can stand on the concert stages of the world and inspire harmonious relations through his music and his personality.”
In addition to his solo work, Rubtsov has performed hundreds of faultless and surpassingly beautiful solo passages in symphonic music which are preserved in recordings of the RNO on the PentaTone Classics label. Rubtsov's solo CD entitled Russian Romance was re-released in 2013. A project of Blue Griffin Recording the CD was engineered by Sergei Kvitko, who also accompanies Rubtsov on the piano. Rubtsov and Kvitko were featured in concert at the National Flute Association's 2011 annual convention in the United States and have appeared in concert together from Connecticut to California.
Born in 1977 in Bryansk, Russia, Maxim Rubtsov began to study piano at age five. At age seven he danced with the famous Moiseyev Dance Company and only later did he begin flute lessons. At age 13 he transferred to Moscow's Gnesin Academy of Music and subsequently graduated with an advanced degree in music from the Moscow State Conservatory. Rubtsov joined the flute section of the RNO in 1999 and was appointed Associate Principal the following year, at the time the youngest ever to hold this position in the history of the orchestra. In his unique career, Rubtsov has performed as a flutist-dancer at Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre with Germaul Barnes and with Denis Boroditsky Dance Company.
Rubtsov’s 2015 teaching residency with New World Symphony in Miami represents his most recent collaboration with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and featured an online master class linking participants from the Royal Danish Academy of Music. Commentators on Rubtsov’s master class performance called him an “absurdly delightful flutist.” Previously he had been flutist-in-residence with Tilson Thomas’s San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Rubtsov’s teaching residencies have included conservatories, universities and music schools in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Singapore, Dubai and Russia.
Rubtsov also performs in chamber ensembles and is a founding member of the Russian National Orchestra Wind Quintet, which took top honors in the Fifth Annual Osaka International Chamber Music Contest. Together with the RNOWQ he has explored jazz and other genre-bending compositions, including the works of Chris Brubeck for wind quintet and jazz quartet, as well as adaptations of Peter and the Wolf and Wolf Tracks for children.
Rubtsov has shared the stages of Europe in chamber performances with pianists Mikhail Pletnev and Francesco Schlimé. In 2012 he performed with American soprano Lisa Delan at the Napa Valley Festival del Sole, and they recorded together at Skywalker Studios in California. In 2013 Rubtsov was featured flutist along with Diane Boyd Schultz (piccolo) in Chris Brubeck’s musical for children entitled Hermitage Cats Save the Day, which premiered in the United States and Russia. In 2012 he toured Russia with the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, playing jazz and classical compositions in tribute to the legendary Dave Brubeck.
Hear Maxim Rubtsov
| Mozart's Flute Concerto No. 1, in G Major, performed March 14, 2007 at Worcester, MA, with the Russsian National Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Jurowski | |||
| 26:18 | Download | ||
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| Mozart, Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra in C major, KV 299 Performed at the RNO Grand Festival in Moscow, Sept 9, 2009, Mikhail Pletnev conductor, soloists Maxim Rubtsov (flute) and Svetlana Paramonova (harp) |
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| 1. Allegro | 10:31 | Download | |
| 2. Andantino | 8:40 | Download | |
| 3. Rondo | 7:01 | Download | |
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| Franz Joseph Haydn, Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, No. 1 in D major | |||
| 1. Allegro Moderato | 7:32 | Download | |
| 2. Adagio | 8:31 | Download | |
| 3. Finale | 5:34 | Download | |
Watch Maxim Rubtsov
Excerpts from Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio by Claude Bolling, performed at Festival del Sole Napa Valley, July 16, 2010.
Cole Porter What Is This Thing Called Love? 2011 RNO Grand Festival, Moscow, Russia, September 13, 2011
Flight of the Bumblebee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. (Maxim recently released his solo CD, Russian Romance, recorded at Blue Griffin studios. It includes such favorites as Rachmaninoff's Vocalise, Alabyev's Nightingale and many other Russian works arranged for flute and piano. In this video, maxim plays Flight of the Bumblebee in less than a minute. Sergei Kvitko, producer of the recording, is at the piano.)
Maxim and Soprano Lisa Delan at Festival del Sole 2012.
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Performances with the RNO
March 2020
08 Sun
Philharmonia 2, Rachmaninov Concert Hall
Moscow
Russia
Location
Program
- Shostakovich
- Festive Overture
- Arensky
- Concert Waltz (arranged for trumpet and orchestra by V. Lavrik)
- Strauss
- Tales of the Vienna Forest
- Tchaikovsky
- Scherzo for Violin and Orchestra
- Strauss
- Trick Tracks Polka
- Bizet
- Fantasia on Themes from the Opera Carmen, for flute and orchestra
- Tchaikovsky
- Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker Ballet
- Rossini
- Overture to the opera William Tell (fragment)
- Shostakovich
- Waltz from Jazz Suite 2
- Tchaikovsky
- Waltz from "Serenade for String Orchestra"
- Strauss
- Polka "Thunder and Lightning"
- Arban
- Variations on the theme of Venice Carnival
- Offenbach
- Overture to the operetta Orpheus in Hell
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Vladislav Lavrik, Trumpet
Alexey Bruni, Violin
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
April 2019
24 Wed
Vrubel Hall, Tretyakov Gallery
Moscow
Russia
Program
- Mozart
- Rondo in D for Piano & Orchestra, KV 382
- Cimarosa
- Concerto for 2 Flutes & Orchestra in G major
- Paganini
- "Moses". Variations on One String (Orchestration by A. Strelnikov)
- Rossini
- Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet with Orchestra
- Vlasov
- "Bossa Nova" for Bayan
- Vivaldi
- Concerto "Night" for flute, strings and basso continuo in G Minor (op. 10 no.2)
- Benda
- "Grave" for Viola and Orchestra
- Teleman
- Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in D major
- Tsfassman
- "Intermezzo" for Clarinet and Orchestra
- Gluck
- "Melody" for Flute and Orchestra
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Roman Cher, Piano
Elisaveta Lenkina, Flute
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
Alexander Tatarinov, Viola
Andrey Guskov, Cello
Sergei Yeletsky, Clarinet
Leonid Ogrinchuk, Piano, Basso Continuo
Dmitry Aizenshtadt, Clarinet
Konstantin Grigoryev, Trumpet
Olga Chepizhnaya, Violin
April 2018
27 Fri
Vrubel Hall, Tretyakov Gallery
Moscow
Russia
Program
For families adversely affected by the 1986 Chernobyl Disaster
Part of the annual concert series for youth supported by Chevron
- Vivaldi
- Concerto from the "Harmonic Inspirations" cycle for two violins, strings and basso continuo, in A minor (RV522, op.3)
- Piazzolla
- "Winter in Buenos Aires," for violin and string orchestra, from the cycle "Four Seasons in Buenos Aires"
- Telemann
- Concerto for two violas, strings and basso continuo, in G major
- Tsybin
- Concerto Allegro No. 1, for flute and string orchestra
- Telemann
- Concerto for trumpet, strings and basso continuo, in D major
- Doppler
- "Riga souvenir" for flute, French horn and string orchestra
- Bach
- Concerto No. 1 for violin, string orchestra and basso continuo, in A minor
- Cimarosa
- Concerto for clarinet and string orchestra, in C minor
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Alexey Bruni, Violin
Sergei Dubov, Viola
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
Maxim Khokholkov, Violin
Anastasia Khokholkova, Violin
Alexander Tatarinov, Viola
Konstantin Grigoryev, Trumpet
Alexey Serov, French Horn
Dmitry Aizenshtadt, Clarinet
Leonid Ogrinchuk, Piano, Basso Continuo
April 2017
27 Thu
Vrubel Hall, Tretyakov Gallery
Moscow
Russia
Program
Magic of Music Concert
For families adversely affected by the 1986 Chernobyl Disaster.
- Mozart
- A Little Night Music, 1st movement, K.525
- Benda
- "Grave" for Viola & string orchestra
- Bach
- "Badinerie" from Suite No. 2 in H minor, BWV 1067
- Mancini
- "Baby Elephant Walk"
- "Maggie's Theme," from The Thorn Birds
- Gigue
- Vivaldi
- "Seasons", op.8, no.1 (Concert no.1 in E major "Spring")
- Grieg
- Suite "From Holberg's Time" for string orchestra, op.40
- Vivaldi
- Seasons, op.8, no.2 (Concert no.2 in G minor "Summer")
- Piazzolla
- Libertango
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Alexey Bruni, Violin
Maxim Khokholkov, Violin
Sergei Dubov, Viola
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
March 2017
16 Thu
Orenburg Philharmonic
Orenburg
Russia
Program
Classics for All
- Mozart
- A Little Night Music, 1st movement, K.525
- Bach
- "Badinerie" from Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067
- "Air" from Suite no.3 in D major, BWV 1068
- Pachelbel
- Canon
- Tchaikovsky
- Waltz from "Serenade for Strings"
- Vivaldi
- Seasons, op.8, no.1 (Concerto No.1 in E major, "Spring")
- Grieg
- Air & Rigaudon from the Suite "From Holberg's Time", op.40
- Rimsky-Korsakov
- Flight of the Bumblebee
- Sarasate
- "Navarra" for Two Violins and Strings
- Piazzolla
- Libertango
- Arban
- The Carnival of Venice
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
Tatiana Porshneva, Violin
Olga Chepizhnaya, Violin
Svetlana Dzutseva, Violin
Vladislav Lavrik, Trumpet
10 Fri
Great Hall, Moscow Conservatory
Moscow
Russia
Program
- Massenet
- Ballet Suite from opera "Le Cid"
- Bizet
- Introduction to the opera "Carmen"
- Seguidilla from the opera "Carmen"
- Interlude to second act of the opera "Carmen"
- Habanera from the opera "Carmen"
- Ravel
- Concepcion's aria from the opera "The Spanish Hour"
- Sorozabal
- Aria from the zarzuela "Mistress of the Port Tavern"
- Ravel
- Gypsy
- Rachmaninov
- Capriccio on Gypsy Themes
- Liszt
- Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
- Chapi
- Aria of Luisa from the zarzuela "Daughters of Zebedee"
- Lacalle
- Amapola
- Bizet-Borne
- Gypsy Song and Finale
- Lara
- Granada
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Polina Shamayeva, Mezzo-soprano
Alexei Neklyudov, Tenor
Ilya Gaisin, Violin
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
October 2016
09 Sun
Tula Regional Philharmonic Hall
Tula
Russia
Program
- Bernstein
- Overture to Candide
- Gershwin
- "Rhapsody in Blue" (Arrangement for Trumpet)
- Suite from Porgy and Bess
- "An American in Paris"
- Bernstein
- Suite from West Side Story
- Chugunov
- Jazz Concerto for flute and orchestra
Conductors:
Guest Artists:
Vladislav Lavrik, Trumpet
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
December 2015
31 Thu
Small Hall, Moscow Conservatory
Moscow
Russia
Program
New Year's Jazz with the Russian National Orchestra
- Works by Ellington, Brubeck, Bolling, Artremyev and Rachmaninov
Guest Artists:
Igor Butman, Saxophone
Vadim Eilenkrig, Trumpet
Vladislav Lavrik, Trumpet
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
April 2015
21 Tue
Tretyakov Gallery, Vrubel Hall
Moscow
Russia
Program
Concert for the families affected by the Chernobyl accident. Sponsored by Chevron.
- Handel
- Suite in D Major for Trumpet and Strings
- Haydn
- Cello Concerto in C Major
- Grieg
- Suite "From Holberg's Time"
- Ignaz Moscheles
- Concertante for Flute, Oboe and Orchestra
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Konstantin Grigoryev, Trumpet
Fyodor Amosov, Cello
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
Olga Tomilova, Oboe
April 2013
19 Fri
Vrubel Hall, Tretyakov Gallery
Moscow
Russia
Program
Concert sponsored by Chevron
- Weber
- Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra E-flat major, op.26 (orch. A. Rubtsov)
- A. Rubtsov
- London Concertino for Flute and Strings
- Dvorak
- Serenade for Strings in E-major, op.22
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Dmitry Aizenshtadt, Clarinet
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
September 2012
17 Mon
Tchaikovsky Concert Hall
Moscow
Russia
Program
Jazz Evening
- Chris Brubeck
- Crescent City Suite
- The Blues and Beyond
- Dave Brubeck
- Blue Rondo a la Turk
- The Basie Band is Back in Town
- In Your Own Sweet Way
- Cassandra
- Paul Desmond
- Take Five
In addition to Chris (trombone and bass) and Dan (drums), the Brubeck Brothers Quartet includes Chuck Lamb (piano) and Mike De Micco (guitar)
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Igor Butman, Saxophone
Vladislav Lavrik, Trumpet
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
September 2011
13 Tue
Tchaikovsky Concert Hall
Moscow
Russia
Program
- Gershwin
- I Got Rhythm
- What is This Thing Called Love?
- Rhapsody in Blue
- Djangirov
- Iris
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Eldar Djangirov Trio, Jazz trio
Todd Strait, Drums
Earl Travis, Bass
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
Vladislav Lavrik, Trumpet
July 2010
16 Fri
Napa Valley Opera House
Napa
CA
Program
- Mozart
- Piano Concerto No. 12, K. 414
- Bolling
- Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio
- Toot Suite for Trumpet and Jazz Piano Trio
Guest Artists:
Conrad Tao, Piano
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
Vladislav Lavrik, Trumpet
September 2009
09 Wed
Bolshoi Theater
Moscow
Russia
Program
- Mozart
- Concerto for Flute and Harp
- Gran Partita
- Gliere
- Horn Concerto
- Scriabin
- Poeme d’extase
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Michael Collins, Clarinet
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
Svetlana Paramonova, Harp
Vladislav Lavrik, Trumpet
Alexey Serov, French Horn
March 2009
18 Wed
Middle Collegiate Church
New York
NY
Program
- Moscow Meets Manhattan
- A unique evening of Music and Dance to benefit Classical Action and Dancers Responding to Aids
- Featuring: Germaul Barnes, Bessie Award winner, dancer/choreographer, Maxim Rubtsov, flutist. The Russian National Orchestra Wind Quintet, Cameron Carpenter, 2009 Grammy nominated organist.
Guest Artists:
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
Germaul Barnes, Dancer
Cameron Carpenter, Organ
March 2007
14 Wed
Mechanics Hall
Worcester
MA
Program
- Stravinsky
- Scherzo Fantastique
- Mozart
- Flute Concerto in G major, K.313
- Prokofiev
- Symphony No. 5
Conductor:
Guest Artist:
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
March 2006
27 Mon
Mondavi Center / Jackson Hall
Davis
CA
Location
Program
- Mozart
- Flute Concerto No. 1, K. 313, G major
- Shostakovich
- Suite No. 1
- Rimsky-Korsakov
- Scheherazade
Conductor:
Guest Artist:
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
January 2006
27 Fri
Orchestrion
Moscow
Russia
Program
- Bach, J. S.
- Violin Concerto No. 1, A minor (BWV 1041)
- Mozart, W. A.
- Sinfonia Concertante for Strings, E flat major (K.364)
- Mozart, L.
- Trumpet Concerto, D major
- Haydn
- Cello Concerto, C major
- Mozart, W.A.
- Flute Concerto No. 1, G major (K.313)
Conductor:
Guest Artists:
Mikhail Simonyan, Violin
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
Vladislav Lavrik, Trumpet
Maxim Tarnorutsky, Cello
August 2005
26 Fri
St. John's
London
Program
- Tchaikovsky
- Suite from the Nutcracker (arr. by Andrey Rubtsov for Wind Quintet: World Premiere)
- Bizet
- Suite from Carmen (arr. by Andrey Shuty for Wind Quintet: World Premiere)
- Glinka
- Valse Fantaisie
- Doppler
- Concerto for Two Flutes and Orchestra, D-minor
- Tchaikovsky
- Symphony No. 4, op. 36, F-minor
Part I: RNO Wind Quintet and Soloists of the Kremlin Ballet
RNO Wind Quintet: Maxim Rubtsov (flute), Andrey Rubtsov (oboe), Andrey Shuty (clarinet), Alexey Serov (French horn), Andrey Snegirev (basson)
Stars of the Kremlin Ballet Theatre: Zhanna Bogoroditskaya and Aydar Shaydullin, Kristina Kretova and Sergey Smirnov, Natalia Balakhnicheva and Sergey Vasyuchenko; Choreographer: Artistic Director of the Kremlin Ballet Theatre, Professor Andrey Petrov
Part II: Russian National Orchestra
Part III: Russian National Orchestra
Conductor:
Guest Artist:
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute
April 2005
22 Fri
Tretyakov Gallery
Moscow
Russia
Program
- Glinka
- Valse Fantaisie
- Doppler
- Concerto for Two Flutes
- Tchaikovsky
- March Slave
- Sviridov
- Valse, March and Romance from Snowstorm
Conductor:
Guest Artist:
Maxim Rubtsov, Flute