Rachmaninoff International Orchestra

Born of a singular moment in history, the Rachmaninoff International Orchestra embodies the vision of its founder, Mikhail Pletnev, and his commitment to dismantling barriers through the universal language of music.

The name of the orchestra was inspired by composer, pianist, and conductor Sergei Rachmaninoff, an artist who loved his country but left and did not return due to the political forces in his homeland. Like Rachmaninoff, the RIO is dedicated to the highest standards of performance and artistic expression.

Composed of preeminent musicians from Eastern and Western Europe, the RIO’s recordings and performances draw from the wide breadth of classical repertoire, with a focus on the Romantic and modern composers whose works have been the hallmark of Mikhail Pletnev’s celebrated interpretations.

In the summer of the orchestra's founding year, 2022, the RIO made its debut recording under Mikhail Pletnev’s baton – the suite from Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Carmen Suite by Rodion Shchedrin, released on the EuroArts label.

In October 2023 the orchestra recorded the four piano concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff in celebration of his 150th birthday – live in two concerts at Le Rosey Concert Hall in the Swiss town of Rolle, with Mikhail Pletnev at the keyboard and Kent Nagano conducting. Both performances were recorded for broadcast on Medici.tv and released by EuroArts.

In 2023 the RIO also recorded an album for Farao Classics of works by Hartmann, Ravel and Sadikova conducted by Kent Nagano, who enjoys a close collaboration with the orchestra.

In November 2024, the RIO under the baton of Massimo Quarta kicked off the 800th anniversary celebrations of the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Toledo, Spain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a concert featuring works by Bach and Pergolesi.

In January 2025, the orchestra recorded Pletnev's Trumpet Concerto (soloist: Sergei Nakariakov; conductor Vladislav Lavrik) and Pletnev’s 14 Mémoires musicales (conducted by Mikhail Pletnev) as well as another album with works by Rachmaninoff and Pletnev, both for release by EuroArts.

The RIO’s recordings and broadcasts have received acclaim from critics and audiences around the globe. The orchestra is reaching an ever-expanding audience, with forthcoming appearances in Europe and prestigious festivals in Shanghai, Beijing, Macau and Seoul.