Constantine Orbelian is a dynamic American conductor and pianist celebrated for his magnetic energy and cross-cultural musical diplomacy. Born in San Francisco to a family steeped in Russian-Armenian heritage, he began his career as a virtuoso pianist before becoming the first American ever appointed music director of a Russian orchestra (Moscow Chamber Orchestra in 1991). Nicknamed “the musical tsar of Russia” by *Pravda*, he’s built bridges between East and West through collaborations with stars like Dmitri Hvorostovsky and projects like his impassioned Verdi and Bellini opera recordings. Whether leading symphonies from the podium or flexing his keyboard chops in Mozart concertos, Orbelian infuses classical works with theatrical flair – a trait that shines in dramatic releases like *Arias of Love & Sorrow* and *The Other Cleopatra: Queen of Armenia*. When he’s not conducting fiery renditions of “Ritorna vincitor!” or unearthing rare gems, he serves as artistic director of the Kaunas Philharmonic in Lithuania, proving his passport is as well-stamped as his Spotify playlist.
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