Trifonov’s teacher quits
NewsWe’re hearing that the outstanding pianist and teacher Sergei Babayan has quit the Cleveland Institute of Music.
He has accepted a position at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and (they say) ‘will be bringing a talented group of students with him.’
Babayan, 62, has remained close to his star pupil Daniil Trifonov and is highly esteemed by Martha Argerich (pictured).
This is a huge catch for Texas and a major blow for Ohio. Whether Babayan will also give up his teaching practice at Juilliard has yet to be clarified.
Fabulous musician. Good choice!
We heard Babayan in concert with Trifonov, and the concert was OUTSTANDING. And it made us want to hear Babayan in a solo recital even more (although we’ve never had that opportunity). Anyone in Martha Argerich’s camp is usually outstanding and worth going out of one’s way to hearing. Sergei Babayan is no different.
This is hardly a “major blow” for Ohio, CIS is a good enough school that they will easily fill that position with a pianist of arguably comparable stature.
Not every famous pianist’s a great teacher. It’s hard to fine one.
CIM is doubtlessly a good school… But apparently not “enough” to keep and artist like Babayan around. After so many years he has spent there, it is next to impossible to find a pianist of comparable stature who could fill the void. There are simply none.
Amazing! SMU has made some impressive hires lately…this is a school on the move. Will be interesting to see what CIM does.
Fantastic musician, teacher, and human being!
I find it curious that entities such as this still refer to Sergei Babayan primarily as “Trifonov’s teacher” when Babayan is a great artist and pianist regardless of his having taught Trifonov.
The sun had set years ago on Babayan’s career. It took his affiliation with Trifonov to resurrect it.
Oh, please…..!
That is factually incorrect–it was on an upward trajectory across many years, and was picking up even before Daniil entered the picture. That is clear to the many who actually paid attention, unlike yourself.
This is totally thrilling. Watch all of it, if you can!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csXoj-AI0Sg
@Ludwig’s Van: A nonsense comment….anybody who heard Babayan’s recitals in the 2000’s could recognize that this was a major artist
My recollection is that –having met him when he was in the process of winning the Robert Casadesus competion — Vitya Vronsky (of the Vronsky-Babin duo) essentially had the young Sergei Babayan take over her studio at the Cleveland Institute of Music — semi-officially at first as her health declined, and then for real after her death in 1992. At that point some of his Artist-Diploma students might have been older than he was.
Fuzzy old memories, so probably wrong in some details.
I heard him play in that competition. Wow, just outstanding! And he gave a number of (free) recitals at CIM over the years that were always standing room only, and for good reason. Sorry he’s leaving!
Of course, SMU is actually in University Park, TX… a high-dollar enclave in, but not part of, Dallas, TX.
It and neighboring HighlandPark, TX have been alluring destinations for those very rich wishing to flee and yet remain near Dallas.
I have taught in 14 music schools which are a business as well as an educational institution. Many are necessarily a business first in a very competitive field where highly qualified students are becoming difficult to enroll. Most often students will attend the institution with the highest qualified faculty unless they are offered scholarships and other incentives that they cannot refuse.
How does his reputation compare to Achucarro’s in his prime, both as a teacher and as a performer? My understanding is that Achucarro retired last year and held the chair that Babayan now holds.