Meanwhile there is some other important news: the famous Estonian conductor, Grammy award winning Paavo Järvi accepted Denis Matsuev’s invitation to take part in his personal series concerts. The tandem, not afraid of any experiments, plays Tchaikovsky, Piano concert No.2 – a difficult, antipianistic composition. You can watch the piece of news by the Russian “Culture” TV channel here.
During the tour Denis Matsuev performs the programme which consists of Schubert, Sonata A minor; Beethoven, Sonata No.23 “Appassionata”; Grieg, Sonata E minor and Stravinsky, Three movements from “Petrouchka”. It is not the most evident repertoire for a pianist, and the fact that Matsuev chose there compositions proves the originality of his creative thinking. “How he deploys his titanic pianistic technique and his musical sensibilities in works from Schubert through Stravinsky should make for an exceptional encounter” – writes the American press.
Denis Matsuev is one of the few musicians in the world who regularly present their solo concert programmes in the USA. His USA tours every time attract a most intent attention of the professional critics and the general public, and the geography of his concerts comprises the leading concert halls of the country. But the capstone of the tour will definitely be the recital in Carnegie Hall, Mecca of the American music culture. To perform in this Hall is a big event in every musician’s life, and Denis is having this honour for the fourth time already. The final concert in Carnegie Hall is a cause for pride not only for Denis Matsuev, but for the whole Russian pianist school.
The first concert of the Christmas reunions, the chamber concert by Denis Matsuev, takes place on January, 5. Denis will appear on the stage of the Irkutsk Music Theatre together with Sergey Krylov (violin), Boris Brovtsyn (violin), Julia Daineka (viola) and Alexander Buzlov (cello). The programme of the concert will comprise Rachmaninoff, Elegiac Trio No.1 in G minor, Shoctakovichm Trio No.2 in E minor, op.67 and Bartok, Piano quintet.
January, 7 Denis Matsuev will give a recital in the Irkutsk Music Theatre, where he will play Schubert, Sonata in A minor, op.143, Beethoven, Sonata No.23 (“Appassionata”), Grieg, Sonata in E minor, op.7 and Stravinsky, 3 Movements from “Petrushka”.
The Christmas reunions will be the first concerts that Denis Matsuev gives in 2012. The subsequent touring schedule will be highly eventful – as always, though. January, 20 Denis Matsuev will give a concert in Moscow, and January, 22 the musician will start his American tour, which will be crowned with a recital in Carnegie Hall on January, 27.
Berlin Philharmonic has uploaded on its YouTube channel a part of the concert on December, 22, 2010 where Denis Matsuev and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra headed by Valery Gergiev play Rachmaninoff, Piano concerto no.3. The concerto is considered to be one of the most difficult compositions for the piano, and to hear it performed so successfully is a rare chance. A year ago all the components were brought together: the hall of the Berlin Philharmonic with an unusual interior and unique acoustics; the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra which is year after year reckoned as one of the best orchestras in the world by the “Gramophone” magazine; maestro Valery Gergiev, who is familiar to the audience of the Berlin Philharmonic since 1993, and soloist Denis Matsuev, who played with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time and produced in this sense a splendid debut.
The part of the concert is available here.
You can watch the full concert on the site of the Berlin Philharmonic.
We hope that watching the concert will be a nice beginning of 2012 for you!
The programme “New Year with Vladimir Spivakov” will start tonight on “Culture” TV channel on 22.40. Denis Matsuev, Hibla Gerzmava, Sergey Bezrukov, Ekaterina Guseva, Anton Makarsky, Alexander Filippenko, Julia Rutberg, Veronika Dzhioeva, Alexey Tihomirov and Georgy Vassilyev, Vasily Ladyuk, Ekaterina Shipulina and Nikolay Tsiskaridze, violinist Sergey Krylov, Arkady Shilkloper and many more artists have prepared surprises for their admirers and will assume unusual roles for this special occasion.
Tonight Denis Matsuev performs in St.-Petersburg, in the Mariinsky theater. In the 2nd part of the concert the pianist will play Liszt, Piano Concerto no.1 and no.2 – the repertoire was selected from the newly released album “Matsuev. Liszt”. The soloist will be accompanied by the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra headed by Valery Gergiev.
On the New Year night you can watch Denis Matsuev on “Culture” TV channel in the programme “New Year with Vladimir Spivakov”. Vladimir Spivakov, Sati Spivakova, Denis Matsuev, Svyatoslav Belza and the best musicians, opera singers, ballet dancers and drama actors will be creating the festive mood for “Culture” spectators.
Hibla Gerzmava,
Sergey Bezrukov, Ekaterina Guseva, Anton Makarsky, Alexander Filippenko,
Julia Rutberg, Veronika Dzhioeva, Alexey Tihomirov and Georgy
Vassilyev, Vasily Ladyuk, Ekaterina Shipulina and Nikolay Tsiskaridze,
violinist Sergey Krylov, Arkady Shilkloper and many more will take part
in the show. Many artists have prepared surprises for their admirers and
will assume unusual roles for this special occasion.
“I take part in “Culture” TV channel New Year programmes almost every year, - says Denis Matsuev, - they attract me because of their style, taste, humour and, of course, the level of professionalism of the participants. We shot all the programme in the burst of inspiration in Moscow International Performing Arts Centre. I am really glad that it happened there, - it is a grand occasion. I have different roles in the show: pianist, concertmaster and more… “Culture” channel will as always treat its audience with an outstanding New Year.
You can watch the trailer of “New Year with Vladimir Spivakov” on the web site of “Culture” TV channel.You can watch the video here.
December, 16, in the evening Denis Matsuev played in President Wilson hotel on the shore of Geneva lake at the reception on the occasion of Russia’s accession to WTO. The pianist and the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra performed Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich – composers, who traditionally present Russian culture on the international scale.
The next day, December, 17 Denis Matsuev and the orchestra headed by Yuri Temirkanov took part in the concert “Stars in Kremlin”, which was organized in terms of the “White Rose” charity project. The essence of the project is to build medical centers in Russia that will be diagnosing and revealing female oncological diseases at an early stage.
December, 18 there was a concert in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire dated to the release of Denis’s new album “Matsuev. Liszt”. At the concert they presented the compositions from the 1st CD of the album: Piano concerto no.1, Piano concerto no.2 and “Totentanz”. The pianist was accompanied by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra headed by Yuri Simonov. The “Culture” channel video from the Conservatoire is available here.
A new video was added to YouTube: Denis Matsuev and Maggio Musicale Fiorentino orchestra headed by Zubin Mehta perform Beethoven, Piano concerto no.3 in Tchaikovsky concert hall.
In the second recently added video you can watch Denis Matsuev in "Meeting the audience" programme.Read more...
December, 15 Denis Matsuev gives a press conference in the Moscow Philharmonic concerning the release of his hew album “Matsuev. Liszt”.
“Matsuev. Liszt”, the pianist’s sixth album, was recorded in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire in August 2011, which was dated to the famous Hungarian pianist and composer Franz Liszt’s 200th anniversary. The album is released on the label “RCA/Red Seal” (Sony Music) on 2 CDs that include some of the most interesting compositions by Liszt: Piano concerto no.1 and no.2, “Totentanz” and the symphonic poems “Orpheus” and “Heroic elegy”.
The album was recorded with the Russian National Orchestra headed by the outstanding Russian director Michail Pletnev - People's Artist of RSFSR, laureate of 3 State awards of the Russian Federation and the "Grammy" award (2005). The sound man of the album is Philipp Nedel, laureate of 2 "Grammies" (2002, 2009), who worked with Matuev on his latest relases, including "The Carnegie Hall Concert".
“Liszt is one of my favourite composers, - says Denis Matsuev, - each of his works is connected with a certain period in my life. For example, I won the XI International Tchaikovsky competition with Liszt, Piano concerto no.1. My teacher Sergey Dorensky and me decided to perform Liszt, Piano concerto no.1 instead of Rachmaninoff, Piano concerto no.3 literally a few days before making the application. And it turned out to be the right decision”.
During 13 years after the victory the musician nurtured the idea of creating an album dedicated to the great Hungarian composer. Director Michail Pletnev helped Denis put this idea into practice: “We have been talking a lot with Michail Vasilyevich Pletnev about Liszt and his works. And, of course, we played Liszt very often together. That’s why I didn’t even think about another programme and another orchestra: Liszt – and only with the Russian National Orchestra! And by all means with “Orpheus”, which is a rarely played piece. I am sure that even the listeners who are familiar with this music will find out something new in it”.
In is notable that earlier this year, on October, 22, Denis Matsuev became the only pianist who was invited to play Liszt on the festivity day at the National Concert Hall in Budapest. Before the concert Denis was honoured a chance to touch the piano in F. Liszt Museum that once belonged to the great musician. Along with the concert Denis held a meeting in Budapest with the students and professors of the piano faculty of F. Liszt Academy and made a presentation of his new album “Matsuev. Liszt”.
December, 18, on the day when the album is released in Russia, Denis Matsuev and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra headed by Yuri Simonov will perform the programme of the 1st CD: Piano concerto no.1, Piano concerto no.2 and “Totentanz” in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire.
The international release of the album will take place on December, 26.
You can watch the album's official trailer on Denis Matsuev's official YouTube channel.
Denis Matsuev’s Siberian tour is over. December, 8 the pianist gave a concert in Tyumen, December, 10 – in Omsk, December, 12 – in Nobosibirsk and December, 13 – in Krasnoyarsk. In these cities he chose to play Schubert, Grieg, Beethoven, Stravinsky and Liszt. “I love these compositions, I’ve played them many times. It is the romantic repertoire, my favourite repertoire. I feel comfortable with it, because I am in a romantic age now,” – says Denis.
In each of the cities Denis not only performed, but also gave awards to the young grant holders of the “New names” foundation. This year the “New names” project is 22 years of age. Its creator and permanent head is Honoured Art Worker Ivetta Voronova, who suggested it in 2008 that Denis Matsuev should become the president of the foundation. The “New names” foundation artistically promotes gifted children in the sphere of the classical art. During all the history of the “New names” programme more than 22 000 of young musicians have joined it. “95% of the modern Russian classical musicians come from the “New names”, - points out Denis Matsuev and recollects that his own life changed considerably after the “New names” audition in 1990: the commission said they would like to invite the young pianist to Moscow.
The “New names” foundation gives its grant holders a most versatile support: workshops with the best teachers, purchase of musical instruments, an opportunity to go to summer music school near Suzdal. There is an idea of creating an international music academy for children on the basis of the “New names” foundation. During his Siberian tour Denis Matsuev gave personal grants to the young gifted children from Tyumen, Omsk, Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk.
October, 22 Denis Matsuev gave a performance in Budapest, dated to the 200th anniversary of the famous Hungarian pianist and composer Franz Liszt. The piano was accompanied by Danubia Symphony Orchestra headed by Domonkos Héja. The concert, which took place in Bela Bartok National Concert Hall, brought about several publications in the Hungarian press. Here you can read the following reviews:
Denis Matsuev’s Siberian tour is over. December, 8 the pianist gave a concert in Tyumen, December, 10 – in Omsk, December, 12 – in Nobosibirsk and December, 13 – in Krasnoyarsk. In these cities he chose to play Schubert, Grieg, Beethoven, Stravinsky and Liszt. “I love these compositions, I’ve played them many times. It is the romantic repertoire, my favourite repertoire. I feel comfortable with it, because I am in a romantic age now,” – says Denis.
In each of the cities Denis not only performed, but also gave awards to the young grant holders of the “New names” foundation. This year the “New names” project is 22 years of age. Its creator and permanent head is Honoured Art Worker Ivetta Voronova, who suggested it in 2008 that Denis Matsuev should become the president of the foundation. The “New names” foundation artistically promotes gifted children in the sphere of the classical art. During all the history of the “New names” programme more than 22 000 of young musicians have joined it. “95% of the modern Russian classical musicians come from the “New names”, - points out Denis Matsuev and recollects that his own life changed considerably after the “New names” audition in 1990: the commission said they would like to invite the young pianist to Moscow.
The “New names” foundation gives its grant holders a most versatile support: workshops with the best teachers, purchase of musical instruments, an opportunity to go to summer music school near Suzdal. There is an idea of creating an international music academy for children on the basis of the “New names” foundation. During his Siberian tour Denis Matsuev gave personal grants to the young gifted children from Tyumen, Omsk, Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk.
December 5, 2011, in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire there was a concert “Tribute to Sergey Dorensky”. Sergey Dorensky is an outstanding pianist and teacher who brought up a record-breaking number of famous musicians. Denis Matsuev performed in honour of his teacher Shostakovich, Piano concerto no.1 (parts 2,3 and 4), and then the master’s students played Varenberg in 14 hands. The video is available here.
December 6, at 17 35, “Culture” TV channel will broadcast the concert “Sergey Dorensky and his students” from the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatoire, soloist Denis Matsuev. The programme of the concert includes Schubert, Sonata in A minor and Beethoven, Sonata no.23 “Appassionata”.
December 8, at 17 35, “Culture” TV channel will broadcast the concert “Tribute to Sergey Dorensky”, recorded at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatoire on December 5. In the first part of the concert Alexander Shtarkman, Ekaterina Mechetina and Nikolai Lugansky will perform Rachmaninoff, piano concerts. In the second part Andrey Pisarev, Pavel Nersessian, Vadim Rudenko, Denis Matsuev and Vladislav Lavrik will perform Grieg, Prokofiev, Tsfasman and Shostakovich. Tchaikovsky symphony orchestra headed by Alexander Sladkovsky will also take part in the concert.
Today at 17 20 on “Culture” TV channel there will be a broadcast of the final gala concert of the music festival “Crescendo” (artistic director – Denis Matsuev)
The annual music festival “Crescendo” finished with a gala concert in Moscow in the Great Hall of the Conservatoire. The festival represents a unique annual forum for the best young Russian musicians, performing here means acknowledgement of talent and skills for the young generation of the Russian perfprming school. Denis Matsuev, art-director of “Crescendo”, says: “More than 100 musicians took part in the festival during 7 years… If you look at philharmonic posters throughout the country, you will see that 80% of the names on them come from “Crescendo”. Sharing his thought about the future, Denis expressed the intention to turn “Crescendo” into a music academy with its orchestra, workshops with invited professors and a special concert hall. You can watch the broadcast of “Russia 24” channel from the “Crescendo-2011” gala concert here.
DenisMatsuev and the Moscow Philharmonic, conductor Yuri Simonov, perform Rachmaninoff piano concert no.1 at Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Moscow
“Collected executions”. World elite of Russian piano school. Denis Matsuev at the Great Hall of Moscow conservatoire performs "Unknown Rachmaninoff": suite,variations on a theme of Corelli, fugue
Denis Matsuev, Vladimir Spivakov, Tatjana Vassiljeva perform Shostakovich “Trio” at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatoire
Presentation film of "Crescendo" festival art director of which is Denis Matsuev
Music festival "Crescendo". Report of TV channel"Kultura" from Paris
L’idée d’organiser l’Annecy Classic Festival est née à l’été 2009, alors que le pianiste Denis Matsuev faisait une apparition dans un autre festival français, non loin de Paris. Pascal Escande, directeur du festival, pianiste et enseignant, annonce alors qu’il met un terme à un autre évènement de moindre envergure qu’il organisait depuis dix ans à Annecy. Matsuev, qui avait joué à Annecy et trouvait ce lieu particulièrement adapté la musique classique, a exprimé ses regrets et proposé de présenter Escande à un ami qui pourrait éventuellement financer un festival plus important dans la ville.
L’ami en question est l’homme d’affaires moscovite Andreï Cheglakov, pionnier dans le domaine des logiciels en Russie qui s’est ensuite lancé dans le développement de voitures russes de luxe. Les deux hommes se sont finalement rencontrés plus tard en 2009, suite à un concert de Matsuev à Genève. Cheglakov connaissait bien Annecy car il y avait acheté un chalet près de la ville quelques années auparavant. Et c’est sans trop d’hésitations qu’il a accepté de soutenir ce projet de festival.
Ainsi, grâce à Matsuev et Escande qui remplissent le rôle de co-directeurs artistiques, une aide complémentaire du département de la Haute-Savoie et d’autres financements des autorités françaises, le premier festival a vu le jour à fin août 2010. Matsuev était bien entendu l’une des principales attractions, avec le violoniste Vladimir Spivakov, l’altiste Iouri Bachmet et l’Orchestre philharmonique de Saint-Pétersbourg, sous la baguette de son directeur artistique de longue date Iouri Temirkanov.
Le contingent russe, présent pour la deuxième édition du festival, était une fois de plus composé du Philharmonique de Saint-Pétersbourg de Temirkanov, ainsi que de son rival originaire de la même ville, l’Orchestre du Théâtre Mariinsky, dirigé par Valeri Guerguiev, avec Sergueï Krylov au violon, Sergueï Dreznin au piano et à la composition, et quatre jeunes talents russes d’origine moscovite dans les cordes. Parmi les autres musiciens, deux célèbres paires françaises : les sœurs pianistes Katia et Marielle Labeque, ainsi que le duo composé du violoniste Renaud Gautier et de son frère violoncelliste. Sans oublier Jean Guillou, le plus connu des organistes français.
Annecy ne manque pas de lieux pouvant accueillir un festival de musique. Elle abrite notamment plusieurs sites historiques comme la cathédrale Saint-Pierre datant du début du XVIème siècle ainsi que le musée-château d’Annecy qui domine la ville et fut érigé entre les XIIème et le XVIème siècle, ou le luxueux hôtel Imperial Palace et la gigantesque église Sainte-Bernadette, qui ont été construits plus récemment. L’acoustique est excellente dans chacun de ces sites.
Les concerts du festival offraient une musique de très grande qualité. Matsuev a une fois de plus interprété de manière éblouissante le concerto pour piano n°1 de Tchaïkovski et a fait preuve d’une sensibilité hors du commun dans un concert de musique de chambre composée par Tchaïkovski, Sergueï Rachmaninov et Béla Bartòk. Temirkanov a dirigé son orchestre dans une interprétation remarquable de symphonies de Tchaïkovski et Johannes Brahms. Une soirée marathon de récitals offerte par quatre jeunes pianistes largement salués fut quant à elle particulièrement mémorable, et ce grâce à l’interprétation élégante par le Japonais Kotaro Fukuma des études de Franz Liszt, qui sont rarement jouées, et la reprise magnifiquement fougueuse de la sonate en si mineur du même compositeur offerte par la Géorgienne Khatia Buniatishvili.
Le troisième festival de musique classique d’Annecy devrait avoir lieu à la fin du mois d’août prochain, probablement avec la présence, tout au long de l’évènement, d’un orchestre renommé, et sans doute avec la participation de Matsuev ainsi que d’autre grands noms russes qui continueront à occuper une place importante sur la scène classique mondiale.
This article is a translation into French of the original by Raymond Stults published in "The Moscow Times"
The original French publication is available on the official web-site of the newspaper "La Russie d'Aujourd'hui"
Author: Thomas Schacher
Source: Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Date: 28.10.2011
Die Ausgangslage war spannend: ein französisches Orchester, sein Chefdirigent, der in St. Petersburg studiert hat, ein Solist, der den ersten Preis beim Tschaikowsky-Wettbewerb in Moskau gewonnen hat, und ein Programm, das ganz dem russischen Komponisten Sergei Rachmaninow gewidmet war. Das Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse war also an diesem Konzertabend der «Meisterinterpreten» in der Tonhalle Zürich mit dem Dirigenten Tugan Sokhiev und dem Pianisten Denis Matsuev fest in russischen Händen. Als Resultat dieses Nationenwettstreits schaute ein klarer Sieg für das Russische heraus.
Matsuev erfüllt sämtliche Klischees, die man mit einem russischen Tastenlöwen verbindet: Er ist technisch mit allen Wassern gewaschen und fühlt sich erst dann richtig in seinem Element, wenn es möglichst schnell und laut zugeht. Rachmaninows zweites Klavierkonzert bildet dafür ein ideales Tummelfeld. Betreffend Virtuosität und Kraftaufwand blieben da keine Wünsche offen. Allein, dieses Konzert weist auch intime Seiten auf, beispielsweise im Adagio, und hier wollte sich lange Zeit keine Ruhe einstellen; erst bei der Reprise gelang dies, als das in den Violinen wiederkehrende Thema von Arpeggien des Klaviers begleitet wurde.
Auch der Dirigent forcierte die wuchtigen Aspekte dieser Komposition und liess das Orchester immer wieder mächtig aufdrehen. Am Schluss des Finales ging da sogar der Solist, obwohl er sich auf seinen Tasten wie ein Herkules gebärdete, in den Klangwogen des Orchesters unter.
Ein differenzierteres Bild boten Rachmaninows Sinfonische Tänze op. 45, das letzte sinfonische Werk des Komponisten, in dem er sich mit drei Stationen des menschlichen Lebens auseinandersetzt. Hier zeigte Tugan Sokhiev plötzlich viel Gespür für ganz unterschiedliche Stimmungen: Ungebrochene russische Sinfonie-Tradition drang im ersten Satz aus dem Orchester, ein Walzer mit schrägen und ironischen Elementen war im Mittelsatz zu hören. Und im Schlusssatz läuteten die Röhrenglocken einen Totentanz ein, der nach einem «Dies irae»-Zitat im Blech tosend zu Ende ging.Annecy Classical Music Fest Gets Russian Rescue
Russian musicians, Russian artistic direction and Russian money have combined forces for the past two Augusts to present a lavish festival of classical music in the French Alpine resort town of Annecy.
Russian musicians are no strangers to the rest of the world these days
and play an important part in musical life on every continent. A few
Russians also provide artistic direction to foreign festivals. But to
find a wealthy Russian individual acting as principal sponsor of a music
festival outside of Russia is probably unique.
What is called the Annecy Classic Festival had its genesis two summers
ago, when pianist Denis Matsuev appeared at another French festival not
far from Paris. The festival director, pianist and teacher Pascal
Escande, mentioned that he was closing down a smaller-scale festival
that he had run for a decade in Annecy. Matsuev, who had played in
Annecy and thought it particularly beautiful place to make music,
expressed his regret and offered to introduce Escande to a friend who
might be willing to support a festival there on a larger scale.
The friend in question was Moscow businessman Andrei Cheglakov, a
Russian pioneer in computer software now engaged in developing a
luxury-class Russian automobile. And the introduction took place later
in 2009, following a concert by Matsuev in Geneva. Cheglakov knew Annecy
well and a few years earlier had acquired a chalet not far from the
town. With little hesitation, he agreed to give the proposed festival
his backing.
With Matsuev and Escande as its co-artistic directors, and additional
support from the Department of Haute-Savoie, of which Annecy serves as
capital, and other French government sources, the first festival came
into being during the final days of August last year. Matsuev, of
course, was one of its stellar attractions, together with violinist
Vladimir Spivakov, violist Yury Bashmet and the St. Petersburg
Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of its long-time artistic
director Yury Temirkanov.
The Russian contingent on hand for this year’s second Annecy Classic
Festival once again included the Temirkanov and the St. Petersburg
Philharmonic, as well as their hometown rival, the Mariinsky Orchestra,
with Valery Gergiev on the podium, violinist Sergei Krylov, pianist and
composer Sergei Dreznin and four very talented young string players of
Moscow origin. Among the musicians joining them were two noted French
sibling pairs, the duo piano team of Katia and Marielle Labeque and the
violinist and cellist brothers Renaud and Gautier Capucon, plus the dean
of French organists, Jean Guillou.
Annecy has no shortage of venues for staging a music festival,
including, among its antiquities, the early 16th-century Cathedral of
Saint Pierre and the Chateau-Museum, dating from the 12th to 16th
centuries, that towers above the town and, of modern origin, the posh
L’Imperial Palace hotel and enormous Church of Sainte Bernadette. In all
cases, the acoustics are superb.
I managed to catch the last five festival concerts and each of them
brought music-making of exceptionally high quality. Matsuev gave his
usual dazzling performance of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1
and displayed a sensitivity I had never before heard from him in a
concert of chamber music by Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninov and Bela
Bartok. Temirkanov led his orchestra in sterling performances of
symphonies by Tchaikovsky and Johannes Brahms. And a marathon evening of
recitals by four widely hailed young pianists proved particularly
memorable for the elegant playing of Japan’s Kotaro Fukuma in
seldom-performed etudes by Franz Liszt and the wonderfully impetuous
reading given the same composer’s familiar Sonata in B minor by Georgian
Khatia Buniatishvili.
A 45-minute drive from Geneva, Annecy sits at the northern end of a
jewel-like 14-kilometer-long lake that bears its name. The Lake of
Annecy, flanked by jagged Alpine peaks to the east and gentler slopes to
the west, is dotted along its shores with picturesque villages and the
occasional chateau. Founded at the beginning of the 12th century, some
four decades earlier than Moscow, Annecy boasts a carefully preserved
old town, intersected by a series of canals for which it has been
somewhat extravagantly dubbed the “Venice of the Alps.” A year-round
sports and holiday center, the town and its surrounding region are also
something of a gastronomical paradise, featuring the famous Haute-Savoie
cheeses, fresh-water perch and other fish from the lake and remarkably
fine local wine.
Annecy made news earlier this year as a finalist in contention to host
the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Along with Munich, Germany, it eventually
lost out to South Korea’s Pyeongchang — and perhaps all for the best,
in the opinion of many, as hosting the Olympics might well have caused
irreparable damage to Annecy’s distinctive beauty and charm.
The third Annecy Classic Festival is due to take place at the end of
next August, possibly with a major orchestra in residence throughout and
undoubtedly with Matsuev and other eminent Russian musicians continuing
to play a leading role.
Author: Raymond Stults
Source: The Moscow TimesThe ceremony took place on October, 31, in Kremlin, on the threshold of the Day of National Unity. Greeting the public, President Dmitry Medvedev emphasized the contribution of the awarded artists to the nation’s unity. Denis Matsuev was the youngest laureate to be awarded as People's Artist of Russian Federation.
Video coverage of the ceremony can be seen on the web sites of the following TV channels:
http://www.vesti.ru/only_video.html?vid=372327
October, 22, 2011 Denis Matsuev will play 3 Liszt’s concerts in honor of the great musician’s 200th anniversary. The event will take place at the homeland of the composer. Before the concert Denis will be given the honor to touch the piano that once belonged to Liszt at the Franz Liszt Museum.
The Bartok National Concert Hall, the biggest figure in Hungary concert life, invited Denis to play at this historical event 3 compositions by Liszt: Piano Concert №1, “Totentanz” and Piano Concert №2. It’s notable that it is a Russian pianist who was chosen to play at such a memorable event.
After the concert Denis will be giving autographs.
Along with the concert, Denis Matsuev in Budapest will have a meeting with the students and professors of the piano faculty of Franz Liszt Academy of Music. After the visit to the Academy Denis will meet the representatives of Hungarian professional music mass media.
Besides, there will be a presentation of the teaser of Denis Matsuev’s new CD, on which the musician plays the above mentioned compositions. The official CD release will take place in December, but several copies of the teaser will be given as a present to the students of Franz Liszt Academy of Music and to the audience of the concert.