Photo: Michael Bednarek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
Elena Kats-Chernin
Person · female · Australia · Tashkent · born 1957 · recording since 1993
Soviet-born Australian composer (born 1957)
official homepagestreamingstreamingdatabasedatabasedatabasedatabasevideo
Listen on SpotifyYouTube Music
Also known as Елена Кац-Чернин
Timeline
14 events▣ Album 10✦ Award 2◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1
1950s
1990s
· Debut release
Debut release: Clocks
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
· Album
Album: Fast Blue Village: Complete Works for String Quartet by Elena Kats-Chernin, Volume One
Album
source: musicbrainz
· Album
Album: Blue Silence: Complete Works for String Quartet by Elena Kats-Chernin
Album
source: musicbrainz
2020s
Biography
English biography664 words · 7 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1375986647
Biography
Elena Davidovna Kats-Chernin (born 4 November 1957) is an Australian composer and pianist, best known for her ballet Wild Swans.
Early life and education
Elena Kats-Chernin was born in Tashkent, Uzbek SSR (now the capital of independent Uzbekistan) and is Jewish. Her early life was spent in the Russian SSR after she moved to Yaroslavl at age 4, where she grew up and studied composition at the Sobinov Conservatory. At age 14, she was admitted to the Gnessin State Musical College, and subsequently moved to Moscow for her studies. She later migrated to Australia in 1975, continuing her studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, under Richard Toop (composition) and Gordon Watson (piano). She graduated from the Conservatorium in 1980. She also participated in the Darlinghurst underground theatre scene, with groups such as Cabaret Conspiracy, Fifi Lamour, Boom Boom La Burn and others, often under the name Elena Kats.
After graduating, Kats-Chernin moved to Germany to study under Helmut Lachenmann. She remained in Europe for thirteen years, and became active in theatre and ballet, composing for state theatres in Berlin, Vienna, Hamburg and Bochum.
Career
Since returning to Australia in 1994, Kats-Chernin has written several operas, a ballet, two piano concertos and compositions for many performers and ensembles, including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Australian World Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony, the Melbourne Symphony, the Adelaide Symphony, the Tasmanian Symphony, and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.
She was commissioned to write a piece, Page Turn, for the 2000 Sydney International Piano Competition. In 2009, Kats-Chernin was commissioned by the National Museum of Australia to write Garden of Dreams, an orchestral piece named for one of the architectural features of the museum, which premiered at the museum the same year. Kats-Chernin's other works include Charleston Noir for solo piano, Rockhampton Garden Symphonies with Mark Svendsen for solo voices, mixed choirs and orchestra, and Wild Swans (ABC Classics) a collaboration with choreographer Meryl Tankard.
She has thrice collaborated with TV channels ZDF and Arte, writing soundtracks to accompany their restorations of classic silent films: the 1995 restoration of Victor Sjöström's The Phantom Carriage, the 1999 restoration of G. W. Pabst's The Devious Path, and the 2005 restoration of Billy Wilder and Robert Siodmak's People on Sunday.
Her music was featured at the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the 2003 Rugby World Cup, and at the conclusion of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Kats-Chernin's "Eliza Aria" from Wild Swans was used in Lloyds TSB's 2007 television advertisements in Britain. One of Kats-Chernin's ragtime pieces for piano, "Russian Rag", is used as the New York theme in Adam Elliot's ACTAA-nominated animated feature, Mary and Max. Two ensemble arrangements of "Russian Rag" were used as the theme of ABC Radio National's Late Night Live program until 2010, when Wild Swans then became the program's theme until the end of 2015.
She has won numerous music composition prizes in Australia, and her pieces are regularly broadcast on ABC Classic. As of 2026, her pieces have featured in eleven of the station's annual Classic 100 Countdowns. In 2025, Kats-Chernin was the most popular female composer listed in the countdown, with three entries: Eliza Aria at 24, Butterflying at 52 and Russian Rag at 58.
A portrait of Kats-Chernin by Australian portrait artist Wendy Sharpe was acquired by the National Portrait Gallery (Australia) in 2019.
Kats-Chernin is a represented composer of the Australian Music Centre.
Honours and awards
Kats-Chernin was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in January 2019 "for distinguished service to the performing arts, particularly to music, as an orchestral, operatic and chamber music composer".
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony held by the Australian Recording Industry Association. They commenced in 1987.
Australian Women in Music Awards
The Australian Women in Music Awards is an annual event that honours women for their contributions to the Australian music industry. They were first awarded in 2018.
Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards
The Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards commenced in 1984 and recognise outstanding achievements in dance, drama, comedy, music, opera, circus and puppetry.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 9 | 54.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 11 | 82.8th |
| Studio albums | 10 | 91.1th |
| Awards recorded | 2 | 92.6th |
| Timeline events | 14 | 90.5th |
| Recording span (years) | 31 | 68.2th |
| Genres | 10 | 96.5th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (11 release groups · 10 studio albums)
Albums · 10
1993 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 9 tracks · 1:16:09
1Cadences, Deviations & Scarlatti13:472Purple Prelude7:553Concertino18:414Variations in a Serious Black Dress10:445Clocks: Part I6:166Clocks: Part II "Blues"5:107Clocks: Part III "Crash"4:048Clocks: Part IV5:489Russian Rag3:441999 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 45:24
1Unceremonious2:172Procession3:213Stigma3:524Golden Edge2:415Moo2:546Why Not2:067Left-Over1:248Digging2:219Fake Sins2:1510Dizziness1:5711Let the Dust Settle3:5612Not Quite in the Centre1:4713Hot Air1:5014Broken Mirrors4:3415Clocks V8:092001 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:04:29
1Purple Prelude6:202Russian Rag4:303Sonata Lost and Found I: Sun Glare on the Roof of the House Opposite My Window4:494Sonata Lost and Found II: Unfinished Lullaby5:205Sonata Lost and Found III: Give Me Back That Smile8:416Sonata Lost and Found IV: Chorale2:587Alexander Rag3:058Stur in Dur2:099Variations in a Serious Black Dress9:2210Suburban Rag3:4711Schubert Blues9:1912Get Well Rag4:092005 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 17 tracks · 1:06:38
1Wild Swans Concert Suite: Green Leaf2:392Wild Swans Concert Suite: Eliza Aria3:173Wild Swans Concert Suite: Brothers1:504Wild Swans Concert Suite: Wicked Witch1:515Wild Swans Concert Suite: Magic Spell Tango3:426Wild Swans Concert Suite: Good Fairy3:167Wild Swans Concert Suite: Knitting Nettles3:178Wild Swans Concert Suite: Darkness in the Forest3:439Wild Swans Concert Suite: Eliza and the Prince3:5510Wild Swans Concert Suite: Glow Worms1:2811Wild Swans Concert Suite: Mute Princess3:5012Wild Swans Concert Suite: Transformation3:5913Piano Concerto no. 2: I.5:3414Piano Concerto no. 2: II.4:0815Piano Concerto no. 2: III.2:4716Piano Concerto no. 2: IV.5:5417Mythic11:282007 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:01:39
1Charleston Noir, for 4 double basses9:072Chamber of Horrors, for harp6:533Still Life, for viola & piano: Movement 12:324Still Life, for viola & piano: Movement 21:535Still Life, for viola & piano: Movement 31:046Still Life, for viola & piano: Movement 41:307Still Life, for viola & piano: Movement 52:028Still Life, for viola & piano: Movement 62:379Gypsy Ramble, for viola, cello & piano11:2110Wild Rice, for solo cello8:1011Velvet Revolution, for horn, violin & piano: 1. Hymn / 2. Freeze4:5612Velvet Revolution, for horn, violin & piano: 3. Fountain2:0513Velvet Revolution, for horn, violin & piano: 4. Mostly Unison3:2214Velvet Revolution, for horn, violin & piano: 5. Jump1:2215Velvet Revolution, for horn, violin & piano: 6. Anarchy2:452008 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 19 tracks · 1:06:40
1Second Door on the Left2:482Russian Waltz2:193Luke's Painting3:004Eliza Aria3:105Naive Waltz3:406Buttlerflying3:167Kwong Song Two2:388Silvery Night4:339Silver Eucalypt2:5510Autumn3:0311Reflections2:4212Green Leaf1:4513Road to Harvest Slow5:3614Mute Princess3:0815Burnished Silver3:3516Melancholic Piece2:4617Silver Pearls3:3418Silver Poetry2:4719Phoenix Story 'Tears From Above'9:25Fast Blue Village: Complete Works for String Quartet by Elena Kats-Chernin, Volume One
2012 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 32:03
1Fast Blue Village 25:142Eliza Aria3:193Moody Tango3:074Road to Harvest4:225Slicked Back Tango1:386From Anna Magdalena’s Notebook: I. Polonaise (1)1:557From Anna Magdalena’s Notebook: II. Musette2:478From Anna Magdalena’s Notebook: III. Aria3:239From Anna Magdalena’s Notebook: IV. Menuet (1)2:4510From Anna Magdalena’s Notebook: V. Polonaise (2)1:4711From Anna Magdalena’s Notebook: VI. Menuet (2)1:46Blue Silence: Complete Works for String Quartet by Elena Kats-Chernin
2012 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 28 tracks · 1:26:27
Disc 11Fast Blue Village 25:142Eliza Aria3:193Moody Tango3:074Mezmer3:405Road to Harvest4:226Kwong Song3:307Luke's Painting2:188Second Door on the Left2:379From Anna Magdalena's Notebook: I. Polonaise (1)1:5510From Anna Magdalena's Notebook: II. Musette2:4711From Anna Magdalena's Notebook: III. Aria3:2312From Anna Magdalena's Notebook: IV. Menuet (1)2:4513From Anna Magdalena's Notebook: V. Polonaise (2)1:4714From Anna Magdalena's Notebook: VI. Menuet (2)1:49Disc 21Russian Rag2:152Butterflying3:473Pink-Breasted Robin2:084Blue Silence7:025Blue Rose3:126Silver Suite: Burnished Silver2:417Silver Suite: Silver Pearls2:568Silver Suite: Silver Poetry2:479Silver Suite: Silver Eucalypt3:0310Grotesk2:1611Drinking Song1:1412Charleston Noir7:1413Naïve Waltz1:4314Slicked Back Tango1:362016 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 31 tracks · 2:07:49
Disc 11Butterflying4:172Afterwards4:443Conversation2:334Russian Rag in A minor3:205For Richard7:126All Things Conspire2:397Eliza Aria4:548The Rain Puzzle1:159Vocalise10:1210Lullaby for Nick3:2311Waltz of Things Past4:3012Cinema1:2013Marcato2:4614Slicked Back Tango2:1815Blue Tears3:0616Autumn3:3717Black Tie2:06Disc 21Dance of the Paper Umbrella4:072Scherzino5:483Blue Silence8:044Zerno2:465Play Properly0:366Russian Toccata3:017Adrift5:448Naive Waltz2:599Chorale2:4110Schubert Blues12:3511The Rain Puzzle: Many Hands (remix)4:5712Sunshine Journal (excerpts): I. Allegro2:3513Sunshine Journal (excerpts): III. Moderato4:4114Sunshine Journal (excerpts): IV. Vivace3:03Unsent Love Letters (Meditations on Erik Satie)
2017 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 26 tracks · 1:13:59
1Unsent Love Letters: Love Token1:252Unsent Love Letters: Unsent Love Letters4:443Unsent Love Letters: Behind Your Pearls2:364Unsent Love Letters: Le Chat Noir2:585Unsent Love Letters: Threads of Grey Velvet1:306Unsent Love Letters: Sarabande2:267Unsent Love Letters: Garden Gothique1:508Unsent Love Letters: Very Shiny0:569Unsent Love Letters: Absynthe Cocktail3:2310Unsent Love Letters: The Gymnast2:5611Unsent Love Letters: One Table, One Chair1:1912Unsent Love Letters: Eggshell7:2213Unsent Love Letters: Imaginary Building1:5514Unsent Love Letters: Piano Tower1:4715Unsent Love Letters: Phonometrician5:1716Unsent Love Letters: Modern Romantic2:3717Unsent Love Letters: Maple in the Evening2:4318Unsent Love Letters: Tuesday Suit4:5419Unsent Love Letters: Wonder About Yourself1:0220Unsent Love Letters: Patchouli1:1621Unsent Love Letters: Notebooks2:3922Unsent Love Letters: Postcard to a Critic2:5623Unsent Love Letters: Dance in 7/44:3924Unsent Love Letters: Biqui3:4825Unsent Love Letters: Darkness3:1626Unsent Love Letters: For Whom It Tolls1:45
Album · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Memoir of a Snail (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 42 tracks · 41:231Memoir of a Snail1:30 2The Potatoes0:04 3Grace’s Collection0:29 4Grace and Sylvia0:40 5How Long Before I Die?0:04 6Twins’ Connection1:18 7Family Outing0:59 8Ooh La La!0:04 9Percy’s Waltz I0:15 10Percy’s Waltz II0:54 11Percy’s Waltz III0:48 12Percy’s Farewell0:53 13Look, Gracie!0:14 14Gilbert’s Magic3:27 15Till the Day I Die0:04 16Gilbert’s Tears0:29 17Gilbert’s Sorrow3:00 18Gilbert’s Letter0:54 19Ready Set Go!0:04 20Laughter Club0:58 21Magic Shop0:28 22Our Little Baby0:06 23Narelle and Ian0:39 24Pinky’s Legacy2:23 25The Wisdom of Snails1:29 26Pinky at the Library0:55 27Pinky’s Driving0:29 28Nice Hairdo0:18 29Pinky’s Shenanigans1:42 30Ken’s Theme2:12 31Ken’s Cooking0:48 32Ken Leaves1:46 33Talking in Tongues0:09 34Ruth’s Stare0:38 35Look, an Angel!0:04 36Fire and Brimstone3:55 37Mini Golf1:11 38Fireworks0:14 39Family Memories0:44 40Memoir of a Snail (reprise)1:25 41Grace Out of Her Shell1:29 42Alouette1:11 | Soundtrack | 11 October 2024 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Elena Kats-Chernin head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 9 | 54.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 11 | 82.8th |
| Studio albums | 10 | 91.1th |
| Awards recorded | 2 | 92.6th |
| Timeline events | 14 | 90.5th |
| Recording span (years) | 31 | 68.2th |
| Genres | 10 | 96.5th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Officer of the Order of Australia | won | |
| 2022 | Australian Women in Music Awards | won |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elena_Kats-Chernin.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/3a6240a7-46c0-4971-befd-c4ca40299533discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/3a6240a7-46c0-4971-befd-c4ca40299533core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273213genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273213seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Kats-Cherninbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Kats-Chernin
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Michael Bednarek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q273213 · MusicBrainz: 3a6240a7-46c0-4971-befd-c4ca40299533
Similar artists
Browse every Tier 3 artist →Ranked from this record's own data: shared genre tags (rarer tags weigh more), era, home country and comparable fame. Every card lists the signals that placed it — no editorial picks.
David Diamond
United States · Person
symphonic music · ballet · film score · opera
4 shared genre tags · debut 1990, 3 years apart
20 wikis
Uuno Klami
Finland · Person
concerto · symphonic music · ballet
3 shared genre tags
15 wikis
Michael Torke
United States · Person
concerto · symphonic music · opera
3 shared genre tags · debut 1990, 3 years apart
9 wikis
Nikolai Roslavets
Russian Empire · Person
concerto · symphonic music
2 shared genre tags · debut 1992, 1 year apart
16 wikis
John Corigliano
United States · Person
concerto · symphonic music · film score · opera
4 shared genre tags
22 wikis
Tikhon Khrennikov
Soviet Union · Person
concerto · ballet · opera
3 shared genre tags
35 wikis
Robert Beaser
United States · Person
concerto · symphonic music · opera
3 shared genre tags
4 wikis
Sven-David Sandström
Sweden · Person
concerto · opera
2 shared genre tags · debut 1995, 2 years apart
9 wikis