Mark Gorenstein
Mark Borisovich Gorenstein is a Russian conductor. He grew up in Odessa and studied at the conservatory in Kishinev. He later played violin in the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the then USSR.
Gorenstein studied conducting in the Novosibirsk Conservatory. He was principal conductor of the MÁV Symphony Orchestra in Budapest from 1985 to 1988, of the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra from 1989 to 1992, and the Molodaya Rossia Orchestra. He received a People's Artist of Russia award in 2002 and the Order of Merit for the Fatherland in 2006.
Gorenstein became music director of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Federation in 2002. In 2011, controversy arose after Gorenstein made disparaging remarks about cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan at the Tchaikovsky International Competition in June 2011, which led to his removal as conductor for the competition. The orchestra then demanded Gorenstein's dismissal from the orchestra, with accusations of abusive behaviour. Gorenstein was subsequently dismissed from the orchestra in September 2011. He is currently principal guest conductor of the Novosibirsk State Academic Symphony Orchestra.
Gorenstein has conducted commercial recordings of works of Shostakovich and Schnittke.
