About this Artist

Russian composer and pianist Anton Batagov is one of the most influential and iconic figures in the world of new classics. His compositions have been performed and recorded by outstanding Russian classical and rock musicians and orchestras. The philosophy of Batagov’s projects eliminates any boundaries between ”performance“ and ”composition“ by viewing all existing musical practices—from ancient rituals to rock and pop culture and advanced computer technologies—as inseparable elements of his own practice.

Batagov is a renowned performer of the music of Philip Glass. He has toured internationally with Glass for almost a decade performing Glass’ works for piano. His Glass albums—The Complete Piano Etudes, Prophecies (Batagov’s piano arrangements of scenes from Einstein on the Beach and Koyaanisqatsi), and music from The Hours and Distant Figure (a composition written by Philip Glass for and premiered by Anton Batagov)—have received critical recognition, thousands of sales, and millions of streams. 

As a composer, Batagov has his own unique voice. The post-minimalist language of his compositions is rooted in the harmonic and rhythmic patterns of Russian church bells mixed with the spirit of Buddhist philosophy, the dynamic pulse of early Soviet avant-garde, and the unfading energy of progressive rock. His discography includes over 50 albums. Batagov is also the author of several movie soundtracks and original music for numerous television channels.

From 1997 to 2009, Batagov stopped his concert activity to focus on recording and composition. Since 2009, he has been performing a series of unique solo piano programs. His repertoire includes contemporary classics and great composers of the past. Along with the music of John Cage, Morton Feldman, Philip Glass, and Michael Nyman, Batagov performs Bach, Pachelbel, early English music, Mozart, Schubert, Debussy, and many others composers, as well as his own numerous piano compositions.

Batagov has performed on the world’s most prestigious stages, including the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Jordan Hall (Boston), the Moscow International House of Music, Bing Concert Hall (Palo Alto, CA), the Grand Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonia, Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg), Berliner Philharmonie, Philharmonie de Paris, Teatro Regio di Parma (Italy), Palau de la Música Catalana (Barcelona), and many others.