Denis Lupachev

• Prize-winner of the Virtuosi 2000 competition (St Petersburg, 1993)
• Special Jury Prize of the Kobe International Flute Competition (Japan, 1997)
• Prize-winner of the International Flute Competition 'Leonardo De Lorenzo' (Italy, 1999)

Born in 1975 to a musical family, Denis Lupachev studied at the Special Music School of the St Petersburg Conservatory, graduated from the Conservatory in 1998 and completed his postgraduate studies there in 2000 with Prof. Gleb Nikitin. He perfected his art with Alain Marion at the Conservatoire de Paris and received the Premier Prix, as well as with András Adorján at the Hochschule für Musik München, from which he graduated in 2002. From 1998 to 2011 he was Assistant Principal Flute of the Mariinsky Orchestra, from 2011 to 2013 Principal Flute of the Norwegian Opera (Oslo) and since 2013 has been Principal Flute of the Mariinsky Orchestra.

Denis Lupachev performed as soloist with the Vladikavkaz Symphony Orchestra, St Petersburg Camerata orchestra, Samara and Sverdlovsk Philharmonics, and with the Mariinsky Orchestra under the direction of Mikhail Agrest, Tugan Sokhiev and Gianandrea Noseda. Since 2010 he has collaborated with the Russian State Chamber Orchestra (Moscow) and Novosibirsk Chamber Orchestra.

His concert work in Russia and abroad is very active: he participated in festivals including Musical Olympus (2000) and Stars of the White Nights (2002) in St. Petersburg, Leonardo de Lorenzo festival (2000) and Musicare (2001) in Italy, Saimaa Music Festival (2002) in Finland, O/Modernt (2012 and 2013) in Sweden, First Open Festival of Chamber and Baroque Music (2019) in Sochi. During the Stars of the White Nights festival in 2002 he performed Alfred Schnittke’s Concerto grosso No. 1 along with Alexei Ogrintchouk, this edition (with solo flute and oboe) was arranged by the composer for the oboist Vyacheslav Lupachev, Denis’ father. In 2005 he also performed Boris Tishchenko’s Concerto for Flute, Piano and Strings during Russian Winter festival in Moscow, the piano part played by the composer. Together with the pianist Peter Laul he plays recitals at the Small Hall of St Petersburg Philharmonia (2015, 2018, 2021) and at the Mariinsky Concert Hall (2017). He also played in the Mariinsky Chamber Soloists ensemble with the other members of the Mariinsky Orchestra. This ensemble recorded two discs in 2002 and 2004. In 2020 Denis Lupachev recorded a disk A Flute for the Tsar released on the ReachSound.Art label, with music composed by flutists-composers of the Mariinsky Orchestra.

Denis Lupachev gives master classes in Russia and abroad (including Conservatoire de Paris and Tokyo University of the Arts), and since 2007 has been member of the River of Talents project established by St Petersburg Music House to support young musicians. In 2004–2007 and since 2013 he has taught at the St Petersburg Conservatory (assistant professor).

In addition to his orchestral work at the Mariinsky, Denis Lupachev plays solo and chamber programmes in the Concert Hall and chamber halls. In December 2016 at his initiative the first annual Flute Virtuosi festival was held at the Mariinsky Theatre.

Denis Lupachev is a Sankyo Flutes artist, he plays Sankyo 14K White Gold and Sankyo 24K instruments.