Rafal Blechacz, piano
Friday May 2/2008
8:00 pm
Chan Shun Concert Hall
Presented by the Vancouver Chopin Society
A 10th Anniversary Gala Performance
In October 2005, Rafal Blechacz unanimously won the 15th International Chopin Competition in Warsaw.
At that competition, he also won four special prizes for the best performance of the mazurka, the polonaise, the concerto, and the sonata. The jury member John O’Conor described him as “one of the greatest artists I have had a chance to hear in my entire life.”
After standing in at short notice for Lang Lang at Verbier’s Salle Médran in July 2006, the English critic Julian Sykes, writing in Le Temps, observed: “Chopin fits him like a glove. Much like Krystian Zimerman, he projects this music with staggering naturalness. His control of line, his nobility of phrasing, his capacity for tailing off a melody without affectation – all of these mark him with special distinction.”
Rafal Blechacz’s calendar is now fully booked with appearances at the most prestigious concert halls around the world. In 2006, the artist also signed an exclusive five-year contract with Deutsche Grammophon for three recording productions.
You won’t want to miss this spectacular performance featuring one of piano’s rising stars!
Programme:
Mozart Piano Sonata No 9 in D major, KV 311
Debussy Estampes
Szymanowski Variations in B flat minor, Op. 3
Intermission
Chopin 24 Preludes, Op. 28
