CONCERT 4 – Rafal Blechacz
15th Anniversary Gala Performance
Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 3 PM
Chan Centre
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Rafal Blechacz’s Website
„…A multitude of figures, powerful basses, cascades of octaves, foaming arpeggios are ”tamed” by the pianist with impressive clarity. In a fascinating way he reveals the contrasting character of little bells’ clear peals in the Scherzo and the gloomy motifs of ”the funeral march” in the finale.”– Berlin, Der Tagesspiegel
We still remember Polish pianist, Blechacz’s unforgettable performance in the sold out concert in the Chan Centre in May 2008. He is truly a charismatic pianist. Winning the first prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2005 opened the door for him to grand concert halls and assured a contract with Deutsche Grammophon. Since then Blechacz has been developing an impressive career, playing in the most famous concert halls and releasing four CDs under the ‘yellow label’ of DG. The most renowned music festivals, such as Salzburg in Austria, Verbier in Switzerland, La Roque-d’Anthéron in France, Klavier Festival Ruhr in Germany and the Gilmore Festival in the United States keep inviting Rafał Blechacz to revisit. His appearances have evoked enthusiasm and acclaim from music critics and concert goers around the world. He has also performed with symphony orchestras under the direction of such noted conductors as Valery Gergiev, Mikhail Pletnev, Charles Dutoit, David Zinman, Marek Janowski and Jerzy Maksymiuk.
His third recording, Chopin Concerti with the Concertgebouw Orchestra under the baton of Jerzy Semkow, honoring the Chopin anniversary year of 2010, received a “Best of the Year” honor from Gramophone magazine, and the Preis der Deutschen Schalplattenkritik, a prestigious recognition from Germany’s music critics. His latest CD, Szymanowski and Debussy was chosen as a Disc of The Month in May 2012. Rafał Blechacz is one of DG’s best-selling young artists – his stunning albums have sold more than 160,000 units worldwide.
Programme
| JS Bach | Partita No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827 |
| Beethoven | Sonata in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3 |
Intermission
| Chopin | Two Polonaises, Op. 40 |
| Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 39 | |
| Szymanowski | Sonata No. 1 in c minor, Op. 8 |