Sergey Kondrashev was born in 1975 in Moscow, and graduated from the Moscow State Conservatory in 2003 - where he studied choral conducting with Valery Goryunov and operatic-symphonic conducting with Mark Ermler and Gennady Rozhdestvensky. His conducting career began while still a student, working in 2000 with the State Opera and Ballet Theater of Chuvashia, Russia, as well as their State Chamber Orchestra. A significant break came in 2001 when Sergey won a competition that earned him the opportunity to work with the Russian Bolshoi Theater, as an assistant to Professors Ermler and Roshdestvensky.

Upon graduation, Sergey was offered the position of chief guest conductor of the Moscow Orchestra of Television and Broadcasting. The following year (2004), Sergey was engaged to lead the orchestra of the Moscow State Philharmonic Society and the Bolshoi Theater, as well as the Alexander Sveshnikov State Academy Russian Choir, on a US tour. More recently, Sergey has appeared as guest conductor with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra (principal conductor V.Dudarova) and the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia (principal conductor V.Spivakov). In April, 2005, he toured the US with the Russian National Ballet Theater.

Sergey's repertoire ranges broadly, and includes operas as well as symphonic and chamber works. Some examples include the Tchaikovsky ballets Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake; Verdi operas Rigoletto, La Traviata, and Aida; piano concertos by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Chopin, and Beethoven, and symphonic works by Rimsky-Korsakov and Prokofiev. Recently, Sergey completed a recording project of new works by the contemporary Russian composer Andrei Eshpai (who likewise has a featured page here at the Classical Archives.)

Reviews

"Conductor Kondrashev certainly showcased his masterful skills and passion for the composer's work. His technique was unique, working as he did from a fixed base of locked-together feet, using sweeping gestures with both arms as he brought musicians and singers to the peak of performance. It is amazing to learn that it was only four years ago that he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory with honors. No wonder he is hailed as one of Russia's finest young talents. A concert to remember."

The Islander (US)

"Standing tall with feet most often planted neatly together, Kondrashev used his slim frame and arms with great economy. In well-chosen instances, as he coaxed the musical lines onward, Kondrashev's hands appeared to be pushing through a heavier atmosphere, and the shapes and inward angles he made of his hands and arms recalled the silhouettes of Berlioz or Liszt."

The Bryan College Station Eagle (US)