Prokofiev does not go easy on the soloist in his Piano Sonata No. 7. Turning on a dime from brooding introspection to full-frontal assault, the piece demands a pianist who can forge a cogent path through the wild swings of emotion. Denis Matsuev, at his Strathmore recital Sunday, showed just the right temperament to honor the sonata’s bipolar moods, offering a cool, tension-filled beauty in the lyrical pages, and pounding home the relentlessly percussive final movement to thrilling effect. ...

After winning the 11th Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in 1998, Denis Matsuev has been sought out for many high-profile concerts featuring the Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev concertos where his sheer power and bravura can be brilliantly exhibited. Nonetheless, many of us have been patiently waiting to hear his artistry put to work in more varied repertoire.  This recital fully answered the call: it featured three major piano works, ranging from Beethoven and Schumann to Prokofiev, alongside smaller pieces. Overall, it turned out to be a tremendous success, revealing more clearly the artist’s cogent sense of line and contrast, his subtle perception of beauty, and the range of his delicate playing – to set alongside his well-known strength and tonal charisma. Perhaps expectedly, his Prokofiev Seventh Sonata was formidable, one of the best performances I have heard in recent years. ...

five stars ...

Denis Matsuev, Valery Gergiev, et le National Youth Orchestra-USA, débarquaient à Montpellier ce 21 juillet 2016. Ils arrivaient d’Amsterdam où ils avaient joué la veille, captés remarquablement ꟷles images et le sonꟷ par Medici.TV, et retransmis en direct sur internet. L’avion s’était posé le matin même sous une pluie biblique. Raccord prévu dans la salle, notamment pour que France Musique puisse effectuer un test sonore avant la radiodiffusion du concert le soir même. Un seul programme, certes, mais le lendemain d’une réussite, un relâchement de concentration se produit souvent, et puis dans ce cas, la fatigue du voyage vient ralentir les réflexes, disperser l’exigence, tout cela sans parler des effets du changement de zone climatique... Ensuite, après une seule nuit de repos, il faudra rassembler les bagages pour Copenhague où le surlendemain le public attendra toute la fraîcheur et l’enthousiasme qui lui est dû. Le jour suivant : Prague. Cette dernière prestation clôturera la tournée. On voit clairement que des qualités de récupération hors pair dans l’entraînement quotidien d’un sportif de haut niveau, sont requises pour cette vie de bohème. ...

Classical pianist Denis Matsuev was recently announced as the latest 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ ambassador. He received his official ambassador certificate from Alexey Sorokin, CEO of the Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee, and FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.   ...

Denis Matsuev has become an ambassador for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. The Russian classical pianist received his ambassador’s certificate today from Alexey Sorokin, CEO of the Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee, and FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. ...

GRAND PRIX Alexander Malofeev (Russia)Participation in International winter festival “Arts Square” (St. ...

Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto no. 3 in D minor is indeed the non plus ultra of the Romantic repertoire, famously difficult and never failing to impress. It begins unassumingly, however, with a theme in the piano likely of Russian monastic origin, to which Temirkanov’s batonless conducting provided a supple, keenly judged accompaniment. The piano writing gets very difficult very quickly, but under Matsuev’s big-boned playing, even the most severe challenges were brushed off with ease and aplomb. Projection was never an issue for him either, as he effortlessly overpowered the orchestra – there was really no contest. ...

Chicago Tribune ...

Pianist Denis Matsuev will participate in Zubin Mehta’s 80th birthday concert. ...

L’Accademia di Santa Cecilia ospita nuovamente un recital del talentuosissimo russo Denis Matsuev. Non l’ascoltavamo dal marzo del 2014. Torna oggi proponendoci un programma simile all’ultimo. Figurano ancora Čajkovskij e Rachmaninov; ci ripropone, anche, il primo Mephisto-Walzer di Liszt, suo cavallo di battaglia. Unica incursione stricto sensu romantica è la Kreisleriana di Schumann. Una marea di bis concludono un’eccellente serata di musica, coi fuochi d’artificio, alla maniera di Matsuev. ...

What was planned, despite negative economic conditions, is going to take place this spring.My wish for organizing a competition for pianists in Moscow has been met. I’d like to thank Olga Golodets, Vladimir Medinsky, Arkady Dvorkovich for their support.Piano is the most popular instrument in the world. The largest number of competitions and famous performers in classical music is of this specialty. We all remember Tchaikovsky Competition, where (from the time of Van Cliburn) piano specialty is in the spotlight. ...

Denis Matsuev est un pianiste sans équivalent sur la planète et, même, avec peu d’équivalents dans l’histoire du piano. Il combine une facilité technique qui défie l’entendement, un vrai sens du son et, cerise sur le gâteau, une âme — cette âme russe que l’on ne peut définir sans la caricaturer, mais qui combine générosité, démonstrativité et débordements. ...

Dimanche soir, sur les conseils du chef d’orchestre, arrangeur et compositeur Anthony Rosankovic, nous sommes allés entendre le pianiste russe Denis Matsuev à la Maison symphonique. Pour un soir dit télévisuel, ce redoutable interprète avait fait salle comble, et ce fut amplement justifié. ...

Splitting the atom and turning water into wine is doable by any mortal. Perhaps only a Denis Matsuev, though can transform Tchaikovsky’s twelve salon pieces into a thundering passionate 40-minute symphonic sonata. ...

Russian virtuoso pianist Denis Matsuev will give on Wednesday his jubilee tenth solo recital at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He disclosed the details of the upcoming concert in an interview with TASS. "For me the American tours have been one of my favorite performances over the past 15 years, especially on such a significant stage as Carnegie Hall," Matsuev said. "Today’s performance is special. This is my tenth solo recital on this stage. In all, I’ve performed at Carnegie Hall more than 20 times, including my concerts with orchestras." According to Matsuev, every performance in this musical theater is a special honor for him. "It was opened in 1891 with a concert of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of [Pyotr] Tchaikovsky. [Sergey] Rachmaninoff and [Igor] Stravinsky also performed there," he said. "Carnegie Hall has its own special aura, special atmosphere. ...

A substantial portion of the Russian musical community attended the spectacular piano recital by Denis Matsuev at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, Sunday, January 24, given under the auspices of The Cherry Orchard Foundation. Mr. Matsuev (b. 1975), winner of the 11th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, 1998, offered three works on his original program, of alternately salon and virtuosic character: Tchaikovsky’s 1876 suite “The Months” (also known as “The Seasons”); Schumann’s suite after E.T.A. Hoffmann, Kreisleriana, Op. 16; and Stravinsky’s arrangement (for Artur Rubinstein) of Three Scenes from the 1911 ballet Petrouchka.  ...

Enjoy a Night of Live Classical Piano Music Featuring Denis Matsuev ...