Concerts and Piano Teaching

Aleksei Takenouchi was born in Japan.  His father and mother were pianists, both having studied with virtuoso pianist, Leo Sirota.  His father also studied with Emil Sauer in pre-Nazi Austria.  Aleksei received his early training from his parents. His father, Vladimir Takenouchi, was professor of piano at Kunitachi Music College in Japan. In late 1950s, Vladimir acquired 3 volumes of Beethoven's piano sonatas edited by Alexander Goldenweiser. Being very impressed by the Goldenweiser's editing and commentaries, he wrote to the publisher to inquire about the missing 4th volume. To his surpise, Alexander Goldenweiser replied with a letter and sent him the 4th volume. In this way, a friendship was established between the Goldenweisers and the Takenouchi family. In 1965, Aleksei's parents took him to Moscow to give him an opportunity to study with various professors. It was then, that Aleksei became good friends with Dmitri Paperno and Lazar Berman. 
Later, after several more stays in Moscow, Aleksei Takenouchi was accepted to the Moscow Conservatory by the eminent pianist, Jakov Flier.  Aleksei was only 14 years old and special permission was needed from the Soviet Ministry of Culture. When Aleksei's mother went for her appointment with Deputy Minister of Culture, Furtsova, she was blandly said, that "We are not interested in Japanese students." At that time, Japan and Soviet Union were having a heated feud over the territoriality of northern islands.

Because of this rejection, his mother wrote to famous Italian pianist and conductor, Carlo Zecchi, who taught at Santa Cecilia Academy, Rome, Italy. Zecchi replied that he would gladly accept Aleksei as his student. So, Aleksei and his mother went to Rome for piano studies. As he was still 15 years old, Aleksei attended the Notre Dame International School, Rome, and studied privately with Carlo Zecchi for three years. Also, During this time, Zecchi introduced him to Renzo Silvestri, ex-director and president of Santa Cecilia Academy. Both had profound influence on Aleksei and those 3 years passed very quickly. In 1973, Aleksei graduated NDI High School with honors, and was accepted to Royal College of Music.

"Leo Sirota used to tell my father that he premiered Igor Stravinsky's Trois Movements de Petrouchka in Vienna after Artur Rubinstein, to whom it is dedicated, refused to premier it due to its immense virtuosic difficulty. Fights broke up in the audience after the performance!"

            -Aleksei Takenouchi

E. Gnessina corresponded with my father for many years and they became good friends. We have many letters from her.