Pianist Buzz
Next weekend, Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski (See–moan Trip–ches–key) will arrive in Phoenix to breathe fresh life into Tchaikovsky's popular 1st Piano Concerto. Music Director Michael Christie and Mr. Trpčeski most recently teamed up to present a successful performance of Prokofiev's 3rd Piano Concerto at the Colorado Music Festival this past July (read the full review here).For those of you who enjoy meeting our guest artists in person, Mr. Trpčeski will be out in the lobby after each concert signing CDs and greeting patrons. He recently released a CD of his own performing Sonatas and Scherzos of Chopin (head over to Minnesota Public Radio's site to hear him discuss it).
With his busy schedule of appearances this season including the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as several solo recital dates, we're happy to be in good company with this great up-and-coming talent!
(for more reviews and information about Simon Trpčeski's recent appearances, check out these links to the Denver Post, St. Petersburg Times, and his own website, www.SimonTrpceski.com.)
Brendan Anderson
Web Administrator
5 Comments:
Presto and I are looking forward to watching Mr. Trpceski from the 2nd row keyboard side this Saturday night. It's so great that we in Phoenix have the pleasure of hosting such a rising superstar.
Our daughter goes to graduate school in the upper westside of Manhattan. I have recommended that she attend the Trpceski concerts with the New York Philharmonic next weekend. That way, we can sort of share a father-daughter experience from a long distance.
I'm very excited not only to have Simon here in Phoenix but also to have performed many times together in other cities. He is a man who believes in relationships and sincere music-making. My hope is that he ends up feeling a special connection to our community and will be able to come back in the midst of his other impressive invitations.
Given the Maestro's close connections with this Superstar,
can we invite Simon back next season for a solo recital sponsored by the Symphony?
I would love to hear him play the pieces from his album that includes Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 6 in A major ("War Sonata 1"), Op. 82, Scriabin's Piano Sonata No. 5 in F sharp major ("The Poem of Ecstasy"), Op. 53, Stravinsky's Petrushka, movements (3) for piano, and Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71 Concert Suite for piano.
And then invite him back the following year to play
Prokofiev's Concerto No.3 (op.26)!
Maestro, I would like to thank you and Mr. Trpceski (if he follows blogs in cities where he's played!) for an outstanding experience this past Saturday evening. I was aware that he was an outstanding young pianist -- the sort of original and exciting artist that piano afficionados wrongly claim does not exist -- but despite my having very high expectations, even I was quite blown away. I had written on this board last spring that if anyone could make the Tchaikovsky 1 seem new, it would be him. Wow! I had no idea what I was talking about! I hate myself for this weakness, but if I have a particular performance or version of a piece in my ear, as it were, I have a hard time fully accepting or appreciating something a little different. All the way through the performance I kept thinking, "that's different -- and it's better!" If that was how I was thinking, there's no more profound testimony as to what he did, except perhaps that he achieved the only thing that really matters in a performance: he made me feel changed in a fundamental way as a result.
I cannot think of much I would rather have than the chance for a similar experience in the future. I'm infuriated that my work schedule did not permit me to attend the "Meet the Artist" luncheon and would do a lot to make it happen again.
Maestro, I think you were joking when you spoke of commissioning a concerto from Mr. Trpceski's Macedonian composer friend, and I am most certainly NOT the sort of donor you probably most hoped to attract during the intermission discussion on Saturday. Having said that, if you were serious, a few folks like me would be a big step toward making that happen. I would not be offended by a solicitation. I can tell this would be worth it.
Thanks again.
Jennifer,
Thanks for writing, I'm thrilled that you found Simon's performance so inspirational! I wasn't joking about the commissioning offer. What I would love to see happen would be many of us coming together to work with Simon and the composer on the piece and spreading the cost over many participants. Although I am speculating, I think we'd be looking at a price tag of around 15-20k for a full length concerto by this composer. Shared by several people or couples the cost becomes more reachable. If you're serious and have other partners interested, give us a call at the symphony office. 602 495 1117. Perhaps we could make a blog team commission project out of this! I'm in!
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