Maria Matalaev

Macha Matalaev was born in Paris into a distinguished family of Russian musicians: her grandfathers were Valentin Berlinsky, founder and cellist of the legendary Borodin Quartet for 64 years, and renowned conductor Lev Matalaev. Her father, Anton Matalaev, founded the Anton Quartet, and her mother is pianist Ludmila Berlinskaïa.

She began her career as a pianist, studying at the CRR de Paris and the École Normale de Musique A. Cortot. After completing a degree in Applied Modern Literature at the Sorbonne, she worked in art history before returning to music as a producer, later earning a master’s in Arts, Letters, and Civilisation. Since 2018, she has been co-founder and core faculty member of the Paris Institute for Critical Thinking (PICT).

Her 2015 book, Valentin Berlinsky: Le quatuor d\’une vie—in which she assembled, edited, and translated Berlinsky’s autobiographical writings—received the “Prix du Témoignage” at the 2016 Prix des Muses.

A prizewinning pianist, Macha has performed at Wigmore Hall, Salle Gaveau, Salle Cortot, and the Great and Small Halls of the Moscow Conservatory. She has appeared with orchestra since age fifteen and continues to perform as a soloist and chamber musician.

A native French and Russian speaker, she teaches and publishes in both languages as well as in English.