Honoured Artist of Russia
She began her music studies at the age of five, and three years after she performed with the Mariinsky Chamber Orchestra and appeared in duet with her father Vladimir Fedotov, himself notable flutist. In 1996 she graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatoire where she studied under Prof. Alexandra Vavilina, former Flute Solo with the legendary Mravinsky Orchestra.
In 1991 Maria was appointed solo flute with the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow under Vladimir Fedoseyev. She successfully combined her orchestral work with the rich solo career.
Maria Fedotova participated in the international music festivals in Basel (Les muséiques), Sankt Moritz (Snow and Symphony), Paris (Bach et la transcription), Bruxelles (Europalya), Salzburg, Verbier, Bregenz, Gstaad, Elmau and other European cities; she presented solo programs at the Musikverein (Vienna), Cité de la musique and Théâtre de Champs-Elysées (Paris), Musikhalle (Hamburg). In Russia, her recitals and chamber concerts took place at the Sviatoslav Richter’s December Evenings, Palaces of St. Petersburg, Crescendo festivals as well as at the Moscow Easter Festival, at the Moscow Concervatory Great Hall, St. Petersburg Philharmonia Grand Hall and St. Petersburg State Cappella.
She played as a guest soloist with the World Orchestra for Peace under Valery Gergiev and with the Wiener Philharmoniker under Zubin Mehta. She also worked with many notable conductors including Vladimir Fedoseyev, Yuri Temirkanov, Teodor Currentzis, Vladimir Jurowski, Justus Frantz, Alexander Titov, Roman Kofman, Arnold Kats, Saulius Sondeckis, Alim Shakhmametyev, Johannes Wildner, Ivor Bolton; she performed ensemble works with Gidon Kremer, Tatyana Grindenko, Yuri Bashmet, Alexander Rudin, Alexander Kniazev, Maurice Bourgue, Dmitri Illarionov, Naoko Yoshino, Michala Petri.
Maria Fedotova’s repertoire embraces four centuries of music from Baroque works to the contemporary compositions. She was the first in Russia to perform flute works by Christopher Rose, Ned Rorem, Leonard Bernstein, Toru Takemitsu, Boris Tishchenko, Vladimir Martynov, Giya Kancheli, Elliott Carter, Roland Freisitzer, Thomas Heinisch, Thomas Meyer, Viera Janárčeková, Pavel Karmanov, Krzysztof Zgraja, Arvidas Malcis, Igor Vdovin and many other modern composers. In addition to the modern flute Maria Fedotova also mastered historically informed performance and collaborated with Ars Consoni and Moscow Academy of Ancient Music ensembles. Her performances are released on CDs.
Maria Fedotova supports young talented musicians and gives master classes in Russia (within the River of Talents and Siriusprojects) and abroad: in Armenia, Lithuania, Portugal, Japan. She currently teaches flute at the St. Petersburg Conservatoire.
Since 2012 she has been Solo Flute of the Mariinsky Orchestra.