Anna Zassimova

Anna Zassimova is a Professor of Piano with a focus on contemporary music at the University of Music Karlsruhe, where she has also lectured since 2007. Her career spans international performances, recordings, and academic contributions. Born in Moscow, she trained at the Gnesins Russian Academy of Music under Vladimir Tropp and later studied in Karlsruhe under Michael Uhde and Markus Stange. She holds a Ph.D. in musicology and has published a seminal work on composer Georges Catoire. Zassimova is renowned for her interpretations of Chopin, Russian fin-de-siècle repertoire, and contemporary music, with nine acclaimed CDs. She leads masterclasses globally and serves as artistic director of PIANOissimo in Switzerland and German-Russian Cultural Society’s Musical Salons in Baden-Baden.

Her research emphasizes interdisciplinary projects linking music and visual arts, collaborating with institutions like the Karlsruhe State Art Gallery. Awards include the Opus Klassik nomination (2019) and a second prize in Russia’s Pure Sound Award for her CD Sonata Reminiscenza. Zassimova’s discography focuses on underrepresented composers like Catoire and Taneyev, alongside Chopin and Schumann. She regularly performs with ensembles such as the Silesian String Quartet and Phorminx, advocating for lesser-known works.

Teaching and pedagogy are central to her career, with a commitment to nurturing young talent through masterclasses and jury roles in competitions like Jugend Musiziert. Her playing, rooted in the Russian school of Heinrich Neuhaus, combines technical brilliance with profound musicality, bridging historical traditions and avant-garde innovation.