Rankov, Lev

Violin

A fixture in the musical landscape of the Bay Area, Lev Rankov has been a member of the first violin section of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra since 1980. Prior to this appointment and his move to the United States, Lev was concertmaster of the St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra in St. Petersburg, Russia.  With this esteemed ensemble, he performed as soloist, various Baroque and Classical concerti by J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, as well as modern repertoire such as "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme" by Richard Strauss and Stravinsky's "L'Histoire du Soldat" and the Pulchinella Suite.

In addition to performing with the San Francisco Opera and Ballet Orchestras, Lev also has extensive leadership experience in various Bay Area ensembles. He has served as concertmaster of the Carmel Chamber Orchestra, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, Principal Second Violin of the Monterey Symphony Orchestra and also performed as Acting Principal Second Violin of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra.

Lev began studying the violin in his native city of St. Petersburg, where he was enrolled in the Special Music School of the St. Petersburgh Conservatory of Music during his formative years. He was later a student in the class of Professor Boris Gutnikov at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he graduated with distinction in solo performance.