Pavel Necheporenko

Pavel Necheporenko is a virtuoso performer of the balalaika.

Born Pavel Ivanovich Necheporenko (sometimes spelled Nechiporenko) on August 31, 1916, he graduated as a conductor from the Moscow Conservatory in 1949. He became the chief conductor of the Andreyev Russian Folk Instruments Orchestra, a post he held till 1955. However, this post was eclipsed by the fact that he was a virtuoso balalaikist in his own right, and began giving solo performances.

During the Soviet period he was the winner of an all-union contest of folk instrument performers. He also won the State Prize, and was created Merited Artist of the USSR.

Of distinguished appearance with wavy grey hair, an inclination to be as formally dressed as possible when photographed with his instrument, and a transcriber of classical pieces for balalaika; Necheporenko, following in the footsteps of Vassily Vassilevich Andreyev, presents the balalaika as a musical instrument with the same status as any "serious" instrument used in classical music. Among his most famous transcriptions is his Variations on Paganini's 24th Caprice, which Necheporenko played on balalaika without accompaniment.