Anton Batagov

Lauded by the L.A. Times as "a Russian Terry Riley," pianist and composer Anton Batagov is a graduate of the Gnessin School and the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Batagov is widely credited for introducing the music of John Cage, Morton Feldman, Steve Reich and Philip Glass to Russian audiences; his debut CD, a 160-minute recording of Olivier Messiaen's Vingt regards sur l'Enfant Jesus (Melodiya, 1990), became a major sensation in Russia.

Since the late 1990s, most of Batagov's work has been deeply influenced by Buddhist philosophy and practice. He has composed a number of major works based on keystone Buddhist texts chanted by Tibetan lamas, as well as several large-scale instrumental compositions inspired by Buddhist teachings. In 2009, he received Russia's prestigious national Steppenwolf Award in the Best Music category. He has been living and working in New York City since 2010. 

Albums