Artur Krishchyan was born in 2004 in the city of Moscow. He graduated from the Music School of the Academic Music College at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where he studied under Tatiana Balashova, an Honored Cultural Worker of the Russian Federation. Since 2024, he has been a student at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, studying under the People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, Professor Maxim Fedotov. In 2020, he became a laureate of the First and Second Prizes at the International Competition “Night in Madrid – 2020” (Spain), as well as the First Prize and a special award for the best performance of a work by Sergei Prokofiev at the VII International Leopold Auer Violin Competition in Saint Petersburg. In 2021, he was awarded the First Prize at the International Music Competition “Iscart” in Switzerland and the First Prize at the XX Youth Delphic Games of Russia in Krasnoyarsk. In 2022, he received the Second Prize at the IV All-Russian Competition for Young Musicians “Constellation” in Sochi. He was a recipient of a Presidential Grant of the Russian Federation from 2020 to 2022. He has been a participant in the projects of the Saint Petersburg Music House since 2022.   
 
Saint Petersburg Music House (SPMH): Growing up in a musical family, did you have the option in childhood to pursue something other than music?
Artur Krishchyan: Yes, I had a lot of hobbies as a child. In addition to music lessons, I also took extracurricular classes in table tennis and drawing. But what I especially loved — and still love — is motorsport. Everyone used to joke that when I grew up, I would race in Formula 1 with a violin bow instead of a steering wheel. But I chose the violin myself, because from the very beginning I couldn’t go a single day without it.
 
SPMH: Apart from classical music, what do you listen to and perform? 
Artur Krishchyan: I perform only classical music — but in a wide variety of forms: Classicism, Romanticism, contemporary classical music. Occasionally, though rarely, I have played jazz. But when it comes to listening, I enjoy a very broad range, because I’m a true music lover. My playlist contains a lot of interesting music — from the Komitas Quartet to Rammstein.
 
SPMH: This year marks the 185th anniversary of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s birth, and his works are receiving special attention. What inspires you in his music?
Artur Krishchyan: To me, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is, above all, a sensitive and perceptive person. He could perceive a single image in completely different shades — and that comes through in his compositions. He was also a deeply emotional and vulnerable person. That is precisely what inspires me.
 
SPMH: Another anniversary this year is that of Bach. How does his music affect you as a listener and performer? Have you ever thought about why, for several decades after his death, his genius was suddenly no longer of interest or value to people?
Artur Krishchyan: Bach is one of those entirely separate strata of music. His music affects me with an incredibly powerful yet pure force of energy. After practicing or listening to Bach, you simply cannot fall asleep — the mind keeps trying to unravel the hidden meaning and depth that he conveyed through music. Perhaps that is precisely why his work was underappreciated by society — after all, he wasn’t considered anyone special during his lifetime. He worked in various churches and cities, and people expected something simple and ordinary from him. But he didn’t write the ordinary — he created music for all time. Incidentally, this is also why he had so many conflicts with his colleagues during his lifetime..
 
SPMH: Which performers have made the strongest impression on you?
Artur Krishchyan: Among the great masters, I would first of all like to mention my wonderful professor, People’s Artist of Russia Maxim Viktorovich Fedotov, as well as Leonid Kogan, Sergey Khachatryan, and Augustin Hadelich. 
 
SPMH: How did your encounter with the Saint Petersburg Music House come about?
Artur Krishchyan: Sergei Pavlovich Roldugin first heard me at the All-Russian Competition “Constellation.” Shortly afterwards, I was invited to the “Summer Academy,” where I took part in masterclasses organized by the Saint Petersburg Music House. There I met outstanding musicians — true professionals in their field. It was an invaluable experience for me.
 
SPMH: In June, you performed in Chennai as part of the Saint Petersburg Music House’s Embassy of Musical Mastery project. What stood out to you from this tour in India?
Artur Krishchyan: It was my very first time taking part in an international concert with the Saint Petersburg Music House, and I was absolutely thrilled. What I remember most vividly was the warm hospitality of the Russian House and Alexander Alexandrovich Dodonov, as well as the grand scale and prestige of the entire trip. It was also truly amazing for me to get to know the country, its ancient culture, and profound spiritual traditions — it was an incredibly interesting experience!
 
SPMH: In August, you will be attending the Summer Academy of the Saint Petersburg Music House in Yalta. What are your expectations for these masterclasses? Which competition are you preparing for?
Artur Krishchyan: The masterclasses in Yalta offer a wonderful atmosphere that not only strengthens and brings joy and harmony with nature, but also awakens an incredible desire to grow. What I expect — above all — is even greater professional development and a push forward from within myself. I am preparing for the IV International Viktor Tretyakov Violin Competition, for which I have submitted an application, and I hope to present myself in a vivid and compelling way.
 
SPMH: Which competition has been the most memorable for you?
Artur Krishchyan: The most memorable competition for me was the IV All-Russian Competition for Young Musicians Constellation. It was after that event that I was noticed by the Saint Petersburg Music House, I met my future professor, and I began to refine my artistry at an incredibly fast pace.
 
SPMH: What plans are you making for the new concert season?
Artur Krishchyan: I am preparing thoroughly for the new concert season. My repertoire will include four concertos — by Paganini, Sibelius, Khachaturian, and Mozart. Also, sonatas by Prokofiev and Brahms, as well as many diverse and virtuosic pieces, including works by Armenian composers. So this season, I plan to delight audiences with exciting programs and hope to present a new level of my artistry!
 
Interview prepared by Tatyana Mikhaylova