Alexander Melnikov completed his studies at the Moscow Conservatory under Lev Naumov. His most formative musical moments in Moscow include an early encounter with Svjatoslav Richter, who thereafter regularly invited him to festivals in Russia and France. He was awarded prizes at eminent competitions such as the International Robert Schumann Competition in Zwickau (1989) and the Concours Musical Reine Elisabeth in Brussels (1991). Known for his often unusual musical and programmatic decisions, he performs regularly with distinguished period ensembles including the Freiburger Barockorchester, Musica Aeterna and Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin. As a soloist, Alexander Melnikov has performed in a number of renowned concert halls, and has an impressive discography, including his recording of Preludes and Fugues by Shostakovich, named by the BBC Music Magazine as one of the "50 Greatest Recordings of All Time." Furthermore he is an active chamber musician, working regularly with various partners such as Isabelle Faust, Sol Gabetta or Jean-Guihen Queyras.