Riad Mammadov, pianist, composer, and the face of Raketa’s “Million Dollar Hands” photoproject, is a brilliant rising star of the Russian piano school. A laureate of prestigious international festivals and competitions, he has collaborated with conductor Teodor Currentzis and the musicAeterna orchestra, and presented Cartier’s “The Culture of Design” exhibition.
His hands, honed at the world-famous Moscow Conservatory, are extensions of the piano itself, bringing Tchaikovsky and Scriabin to life with a depth that resonates beyond sound. But the true magic unfolds when Riad weaves mugham (Azerbaijani folk music). Raised in a family of artists in Baku, Riad absorbed the richness of cultural traditions from childhood. This creates a living dialogue where past and present meet.
The watchmakers of the Raketa Watch Factory have perfected their handcraft for generations, breathing a unique sound into every movement with their hands. This is why Riad’s very similar philosophy of reviving stories through the touch of hands, resonated so profoundly with the project that we do with photographer Kate Gerbey.